Heather K's Posts - Transition Whatcom2024-03-29T11:48:46ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherKhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2197502158?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=0tcvru41k5xlb&xn_auth=noBenefits Of Saving Open-Pollinated & Heirloom Seeds - Summarytag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2015-01-20:2723460:BlogPost:865352015-01-20T23:30:02.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Many people wonder what is meant by open-pollination seeds,</span></font> <font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">and the benefits of saving those seeds ,</span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">verses hybrid seeds. <em> (2013 post)…</em></span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Many people wonder what is meant by open-pollination seeds,</span></font> <font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">and the benefits of saving those seeds ,</span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">verses hybrid seeds. <em> (2013 post)</em></span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> <font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><b>Open-pollinated</b></u></span> <span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>plant v</b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>arieties make seeds that will grow into a plant of the same variety.</b></span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">By planting these saveable varieties, we help preserve our horticultural heritage & its diversity. </span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Some seeds have been grown, selected, & preserved by farmers/gardeners since ancient times, some as long as 9,000 yrs ago. These seeds were selected for exceptional flavor, nutrition, and for extended harvest season. </span></font> <font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Many are facing extinction.</span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Biodiversity strengthens our ecosystem</span><i>.</i> <span style="font-style: normal;">We can increase both the earth's biodiversity and our family's food security. </span></font> <font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">The ability to feed ourselves strengthens our freedom to live our democracy,</span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">and maintain our inherent right to self-governance.</span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> <font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><b>Hybrid seeds</b></u></span><span style="font-style: normal;">, on the other hand, grow into plants which, while they are usable plants in themselves,</span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>will not produce seed of the same variety</b></span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">—<font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>hybrids do not 'breed true'.</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">The gardener who plants hybrid varieties,</span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">will have to buy seed every year, and seed production is concentrated in the hands of a few companies, often owned by petro-chemical corporations. </span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Many seeds for sale in stores are hybrids, bred to produce under agri-business conditions.</span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">(</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Biotech is about ownership.. the illusion of “owning” the seeds).</span></span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>GMO 'seeds'</strong> </span>- (Genetically manipulated seeds). Most seed-savers & organic farmers are aware of the dangers of another type of 'seed', a type of 'unpure' seed, known as GMO 'seeds'. These 'seeds' are manufactored by humans, and their pollen is harmful to bees and other living beings. </font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt;">Organic gardeners & farmers can take the <strong>'Safe Seed Pledge</strong>: & support seed-saving farmers who take this pledge: <span style="font-size: larger;"><em>"Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an alternative, we pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants. The mechanical transfer of genetic material outside of natural reproductive methods and between genera, families or kingdoms poses great biological risks, as well as economic, political and cultural threats. We feel that genetically engineered varieties have been insufficiently tested prior to public release. More research and testing is necessary to further assess the potential risks of genetically engineered seeds. Further, we wish to support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately healthy people and communities."</em></span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: larger;">Locally, Uprising Seeds farmers have built their seed-saving business around their commitment to grow safe & pure seeds: <a href="http://uprisingorganics.com/safe-seed-pledge-gmo-testing">http://uprisingorganics.com/safe-seed-pledge-gmo-testing</a></span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">* * * * * * *</span></font><br/> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Seed Savers 'bible-book" “</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><b>Seed to Seed”</b></u></span> <span style="font-style: normal;"><b>by Suzanne Ashworth for a guide on saving vegetable seeds.</b></span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Consider being 'profoundly local', like Vermont gardener & plant selector, Sylvia Davatz, who is supporting her local food movement to take the next logical step,</span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">and to</span> <i><b>“establish a supply of locally grown seed as the underpinnings of a local food suppl</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>y.”</b></span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“<font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Small farmers are a threat to the consolidation of absolute power.</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">” - Farmer Eliot Coleman</span></font></b></span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">'The less biodiverse any system is, the greater the potential for its collapse.</span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">In shriveling the gene pool... we strip our crops of the ability to adapt to change & we put the entire food supply at risk. The more food varieties we lose, the closer we slide to the tipping point of disaster.'</span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><i>Info source: Ecology Action seed catalog & “The Seed Underground” Janisse Ray</i></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">Consider saving some bean & pea seeds this year, plus creating your own local heirloom seed-swap, and attend seed-swaps in neighboring communities with similar growing conditions.</font></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>All Welcome to Attend our annual Community Seed Swaps. In 2015 we held our 7th annual swap.</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/community-seed-swap-2013"><br/></a></b></span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Salish Seed Coop & Network & More Recommended Resources-</b><span style="color: #0000ff;"> <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/seedsavers/forum/topics/seedsaving-links-books-videos">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/seedsavers/forum/topics/seedsaving-links-books-videos</a> .</span></span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>Keep your seed genetics fresh & broadly diverse-</strong> purchase seeds through organic seed farmers, like locally Uprising Seeds- <a href="http://uprisingorganics.com/">http://uprisingorganics.com/</a> thus increasing the genetic diversity of your seed supply.</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><strong>"Seed Saving Basics</strong></em><span>" - Mauid Powell-(One Page Summary) OrgegonStateU- </span><u><a rel="nofollow" href="http://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/book/export/html/175667">http://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/book/export/html/175667</a> .</u></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>I'll add another blog later, with including more of the mysteries & hope found within a seed.</b></span></font></p>Soil Test Labs & Resources for Soil Nourishmenttag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2013-04-20:2723460:BlogPost:899092013-04-20T22:30:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Many garden-farmers are adding soil amendments in March & April, before planting..</font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">I'll list some soil labs below that do testing.</font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">At times it can be…</font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Many garden-farmers are adding soil amendments in March & April, before planting..</font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">I'll list some soil labs below that do testing.</font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">At times it can be worth your time - energy to obtain a soil test. </font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">You can obtain a rough idea of how balanced/unbalanced your soil is in its acidity, macronutrients (N-P-K) and also in its trace elements. </font></font> <font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">The more deeply nourishing & balanced our soils are, the more nourishing our edibles are.</font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Biodynamic preparations used in soil nourishment, can grow foods that result in the most satisfying & nourishing meals. </font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">However those preparations require a lot of work, knowledge, timing, and access to healthy cows manure & special horn. </font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">If you are fortunate you find & help a biodynamic farmer friend in making the preparations. </font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">As garden-farmers, when we are diligent in recycling All our nutrients, making compost & covercrops, then a soil test can be more a matter of curiosity.</font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><font face="Times New Roman, serif">For a CSA share using biodynmic principles consider this from Farmer Brian at Inspiration Farm: <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/forum/topics/biodynamic-csa-shares-are-now-available-from-inspiration-farm?xg_source=activity">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/forum/topics/biodynamic-csa-shares-are-now-available-from-inspiration-farm?xg_source=activity</a></font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">For many of us, a soil test make good sense, at least occasionally. Steve Solomon writes about finding the weakest link in our soils that are used to grow our edible nourishment. (“<i>The Intelligent Gardener'</i>)..Sometime this may mean adding a trace element, other times it may mean not adding a macronutrient, such as Potassium, that may be too high in our native Cascadia soils. Consider at least reading pg 84- 192 in his book. (Also consider Farmer Walters perspective in his book '<i>Physics Are On My Side</i>” pg 133-157 or consider a working visit to his farm <a href="http://www.fafarm.org/About_Us.html">http://www.fafarm.org/About_Us.html</a> )</font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Many garden farmers don't have the extra time & resources to do a soil test every year, but it does make sense to do it the first year you grow on the land, and to consider in the future if you are questioning whether there may be in imbalance or deficiency. Also consider a test after any major disaster or climatic event...ie flooding or toxic spills, volcanic eruptions....</font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Remember, our wild plants and 'weeds' bring up lots of trace elements from the subsoil. These are an important source to our compost piles & foliar sprays. I know no longer weed. I harvest plants & manure for my compost.</font></font></font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Here are the two labs that Steve Solomon recommends:</font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Logan Labs <a href="http://www.loganlabs.com/testing-services.html">http://www.loganlabs.com/testing-services.html</a></font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Spectrum Analytic <a href="http://www.spectrumanalytic.com/services/analysis/agsoil.html">http://www.spectrumanalytic.com/services/analysis/agsoil.html</a></font></font></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">A&L Western Lab in Portland was recommended to me from Farmer Billy of Moondance: </span></font></font></font> <a href="http://www.al-labs-west.com/sections/anservices/soil/fees">http://www.al-labs-west.com/sections/anservices/soil/fees</a> <font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US"><i>“They have a pretty quick turn around and will give organic recommendations if requested. They also offer graphical analysis and will email you the results. There are different fees depending on how detailed of an analysis you want but I order the S3C complete usually. Call them and they will walk you through it.”.</i></span></font></font></font><br/> <font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">I don't know if the Ag Extension still offers soil test, like they did in the past.</font></font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">I don't know anyone locally yet, who has initiated a small business, that would travel to a garden-farm, do the soil test, analyze the results, and then provide & apply the soil amendments to move towards greater balance.....and return to also provide foliar sprays on crops.</font></font></font></font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Olympia amendments business that carries some of the trace elements: <a href="http://www.blacklakeorganic.com/OresRockMinerals">http://www.blacklakeorganic.com/OresRockMinerals</a></font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">I'm interested in meeting with others at our edible garden-farm-pollinator sanctuary that want to study soil balance & nourishment together....Especially during a less busy season of our growing year.</font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Please share your thoughts on any soil labs you've used, and any major soil imbalances you've found in your own soil, plus affordable sources of soil ammendments, many of which are mined and use fossil fuel for shipping.</font></font></p>Sowing Seeds for Earth Restorationtag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2012-08-20:2723460:BlogPost:831832012-08-20T20:30:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231476925?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231476925?profile=original" width="320"></img></a> “<font size="2">How many seeds can a man plant in a lifetime?”....Nature can heal if released to its own wisdom. However in severely damaged landscapes, humans can play a healing role, simply by sowing seeds. And humans also need to stop invasive actions that use mined energy, ie. stop the mowing, weed-whacking, plowing, & stop adding…</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231476925?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231476925?profile=original" width="320"/></a>“<font size="2">How many seeds can a man plant in a lifetime?”....Nature can heal if released to its own wisdom. However in severely damaged landscapes, humans can play a healing role, simply by sowing seeds. And humans also need to stop invasive actions that use mined energy, ie. stop the mowing, weed-whacking, plowing, & stop adding chemicals to soil, air, & waters.</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">Tossing seed balls from our hands, or from the air to cover larger deforested areas, gives nature the diverse life materials to renovate habitats. We as humans with hands can gather seeds of multi-species plants and combine with clay, soil fungi, bacteria, and powdered herbs/weeds to create seed balls, or <em>'clay seed pellets'</em>. </font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"> Include in the mix, seeds of clover, deep tap rooted plants, perennials, annuals and trees. There are still guerrilla gardeners in action tossing seed balls, and planting trees on public lands. Hopefully what sprouts will not be mowed down or sprayed over. In our bioregion there are still huge 'deserts' of clear cuts & plowed monoculture lands, that would benefit from human restoration actions. In lands where water still flows, try starting revegetation from the area around the stream banks and working outwards. </font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2">One tree creates life for many creatures, and cycles the water from deep below to those that breathe above.</font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">I give thanks to Japanese Farmer Masanobu Fukuoka, who listened to nature while caring for his farm & used 'clay seed pellets”. His book, “<u>One Straw Revolution</u>” written in the late 70's is still an inspiration. His latest book written in 1996 in Japenese, has recently been published in English: “<u>Sowing Seeds in the Desert</u><span style="text-decoration: none;">” - edited by Larry Korn.</span> Especially read page 92-99, and appendix B.</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">Are you inspired to co-create with nature? Begin observing nature and gathering a few seeds to share. Join with friends to create gardens and clay-seed-pellets! Come to our annual skillshare-barter fair and learn how to make seed balls (clay seed pellets).</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<font size="2"><i>All people, all living beings, are part of the earth life, and so are sacred. No one of us stands higher or lower than any other....to honor the sacred is to create conditions in which nourishment, sustenance, habitat, knowledge, freedom, and beauty can thrive. To honor the sacred is to make love possible.</i>” - Starhawk</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">“<font size="2"><i>The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings”</i></font></span><font size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">-</span> Masanobu Fukuoka</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>Community Rights Ordinance -Town of Wales, New Yorktag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-06-16:2723460:BlogPost:551022011-06-16T03:11:45.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<strong>This local law embodies the will of our residents to protect our natural resources from destruction, so our children and grandchildren can have the quality of life we enjoy.”</strong> – Councilmember Mike Simon</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Tuesday, June 14th, the Town of Wales, NY, adopted a community rights ordinance titled <strong>"Town of Wales Community Protection of Natural Resources.” </strong></p>
…<br></br>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<strong>This local law embodies the will of our residents to protect our natural resources from destruction, so our children and grandchildren can have the quality of life we enjoy.”</strong> – Councilmember Mike Simon</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Tuesday, June 14th, the Town of Wales, NY, adopted a community rights ordinance titled <strong>"Town of Wales Community Protection of Natural Resources.” </strong></p>
<br/>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">News Release: "The Ordinance ( No.3-2011) was enacted as a local law under NYS Municipal Home Rule Act, which recognizes broad police powers under the statute. The Ordinance establishes a Bill of Rights for Wales residents and “recognizes and secures certain civil and political rights of the residents of the Town of Wales to govern themselves and protect themselves from harm to their persons, property and environment.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p><em>(Transition friends- will citizens in Washington state or Whatcom county be next in living their democracy by the rights of the people to a form of government <span style="text-decoration: underline;">where they live</span> “which recognizes that all power is inherent in the people, that all free governments are founded on the people’s authority and consent, and that neither individuals nor corporate entities and their directors and managers shall enjoy special privileges or powers under the color of state law which purports to make community majorities subordinate to them”?</em></p>
<p><em>(Info on Whatcom & B'ham Living Democracy links at end of this news release). </em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The town of Wales, NY "Ordinance was drafted in consultation with the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) and advocated for by the community group Protecting Our Water Rights (POWR).</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.celdf.org/"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">www.celdf.org</span></font></a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">quote- “Two key prohibitions are enacted to protect the rights enumerated. The Ordinance bans “ any individual or corporation to engage in the extraction of natural gas or oil utilizing in whole or in part the process commonly known as and herein defined as hydraulic fracturing” and also prohibits “any individual or corporation to engage in the extraction of natural gas or oil utilizing in whole or in part the process commonly known as horizontal gas well drilling,” with the exception, in each case, of gas wells installed and operating at the time of enactment of the Ordinance.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“The bill also recognizes the right of the people to a form of government where they live “which recognizes that all power is inherent in the people, that all free governments are founded on the people’s authority and consent, and that neither individuals nor corporate entities and their directors and managers shall enjoy special privileges or powers under the color of state law which purports to make community majorities subordinate to them.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Prior to the vote, POWR member Susan Everett commented "I hope tonight you will be voting to pass this local law. You have listened to the people and acted responsibly to protect our families and our natural recourses for generations and I speak for many in thanking you."</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Procedural questions on the authority of the Board to enact the Ordinance were addressed by Councilmember Mike Simon, who said "I don't want to wait for any other agencies, federal, state or county to tell us what to do. The more I learn about the harms of fracking, the more I know that we have to act on this...It comes down to the principle of home rule versus state rule."</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The town submitted the proposed law to the Erie County planning board in April and they were to make their recommendation within 30 days. Instead they asked the Town submit the law to another state agency before voting on it.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"I think the county is trying to pass this off to the state" commented Rickey Vendetti, Wales town supervisor</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The Town Board voted 4 ayes and one abstention to vote on the ordinance without submitting it to the state, then the Board voted 4 ayes and one abstention to enact the Community Rights Ordinance.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"This is a truly unique example of government working like it should. The people of Wales went to their town board members and the board responded to their concerns," stated Sarah Buckley, founder of POWR.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The Ordinance includes a local “bill of rights” that asserts legal protections for the right to water; the rights of natural communities; the right to local self-government, and the right of the people to enforce and protect these rights through their municipal government.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“The bill was modeled after the Ordinance adopted on November 16th of last year by the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and drafted by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund. Similar ordinances have been enacted by Mountain Lake Park, Maryland, West Homestead PA, Licking Township PA, and have been introduced as bills by communities in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and West Virginia.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“The gas extraction technique known as “fracking” has been cited as a threat to surface and ground water throughout the region, and has been blamed for fatal explosions, the contamination of drinking water, local streams, the air and soil. Collateral damage includes lost property value, ingestion of toxins by livestock, drying up of mortgage loans for prospective home buyers, and threatened loss of organic certification for farmers in the affected communities.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Ben Price, Projects Director for the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, applauded the Council for taking a stand on behalf of community rights. “State law preempts municipalities from regulating the industry to protect the community. But residents have the right to decide whether or not they get fracked. We don’t have a gas drilling problem. We have a democracy problem. Its symptoms are the State’s refusal to recognize the right to local, community self-government, and the issuance of permits to drilling corporations that empower them to violate the rights of the human and natural communities.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;">“<font size="2">The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, headquartered in Chambersburg, has been working with people in Pennsylvania since 1995 to assert their fundamental rights to democratic local self-governance, and to enact laws which end destructive and rights-denying corporate action aided and abetted by state and federal governments.”</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;">“<font size="2">Town of Wales, New York, Adopts Community Rights Ordinance That Bans “Fracking”</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font size="2">MEDIA RELEASE June 15, 2011</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font size="2">CONTACT: Ben Price, (717) 254-3233</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="mailto:benprice@celdf.org"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">benprice@celdf.org</span></font></a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font size="2">Media Release from:</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font size="2">The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font size="2">Pennsylvania Community Rights Network</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font size="2">P.O. Box 2016 Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 17201</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.celdf.org/"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">www.celdf.org</span></font></a> endquote"</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font size="2">* * * * *</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="3"><b>More Local Information on Living Our Democracy in Whatcom & Bellingham:</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p><u><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">EVENTS:</span></font></u></p>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Living Democracy – 2 hr Workshops thru Whatcom Folk School <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/living-democracy-a-workshop">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/living-democracy-a-workshop</a></span></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Advanced Living Democracy School Weekend with CELDF -Fri June 24 & Sat June 25- <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/democracy-school-weekend-fri">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/democracy-school-weekend-fri</a></span></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><u><span style="font-weight: normal;">Local NETWORKS & NEWS</span></u></font><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">:</span></font></p>
<h1 class="western"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Whatcom Watch article- “Democracy School In Bellingham” <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/democracy-school-in-bellingham">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/democracy-school-in-bellingham</a></span></font></h1>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Transition Whatcom's “Living Democracy” online network- <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/politicsanddemocracy">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/politicsanddemocracy</a></span></font></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Is a Truly Sustainable Society Achievable As Long As Corporate 'Rights' Trump the Rights of People” <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/is-a-truly-sustainable-society">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/is-a-truly-sustainable-society</a></span></font></p>
<p><br/><br/></p>Democracy School In Bellingham- Whatcom Watch Article!tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-06-02:2723460:BlogPost:537672011-06-02T02:30:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p>Why are corporations able to make decisions on how our community is cared for, instead of we the people having the right to make the decision? What will living our democracy look like in the near future?</p>
<p>When is the next Democracy School weekend and what do citizens learn? </p>
<p><strong>Autumn 2011 Democracy School- Oct 21,22 is filling up! </strong> For information/application contact Stoney at <a href="mailto:lidg@ymail.com">lidg@ymail.com</a> .</p>
<p>Our Sept 9 & 10th…</p>
<p>Why are corporations able to make decisions on how our community is cared for, instead of we the people having the right to make the decision? What will living our democracy look like in the near future?</p>
<p>When is the next Democracy School weekend and what do citizens learn? </p>
<p><strong>Autumn 2011 Democracy School- Oct 21,22 is filling up! </strong> For information/application contact Stoney at <a href="mailto:lidg@ymail.com">lidg@ymail.com</a> .</p>
<p>Our Sept 9 & 10th school was a success - as were our spring & summer schools.</p>
<p>Read our Whatcom Watch article: <a href="http://www.whatcomwatch.org/php/WW_open.php?id=1301">http://www.whatcomwatch.org/php/WW_open.php?id=1301</a></p>
<p> <em>quote:</em> "Environmental laws were never intended to protect the rights of people, but rather to protect the rights of a privileged minority to exploit a community’s natural resources. Environmental laws don’t help people thrive in their natural environment and they certainly don’t protect nature for its own sake. In the same way, labor laws were never intended to protect workers. Instead, they prevent disruption of commerce by limiting how workers are allowed organize in order to improve working conditions.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>"Since the passage of basic environmental laws 40 years ago, the situation has gotten worse by every major index, but not for lack of effort on the part of citizens. We win enough victories to keep us hopeful that someday soon, we’ll figure out how to prevail by working within the regulatory arena. Yet many victories prove to be temporary. Citizens are fragmented, working on narrowly defined, single-issue problems in scattered ways that lack coordination or overall purpose.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; font-weight: normal;">"Invariably, we fight against a specific damage, and rarely for something as broad as the right of a community to control its own destiny. We have been fighting symptoms, rather than getting at the core of the disease: excessive corporate legal power."<span style="color: #0000ff;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Our classes are filling up with some great citizens who have been taking action in our community! We have hosted 3 weekend schools as of July 2011.</font></font></strong></p>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Read the full article by David Hopkinson & members of the Living Democracy initiating group below or at- <a href="http://www.whatcomwatch.org/php/WW_open.php?id=1301">http://www.whatcomwatch.org/php/WW_open.php?id=1301</a></span></font></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Whatcom Watch Article by David Hopkinson & Living Democracy friends!</strong></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><br/><strong>quote:</strong> “There are three people interested in gardening, permaculture and sustainable living. Two political activists. A couple of engineers. A community organizer. Five retired guys – a teacher of literature, a physician, an attorney, a biologist and a psychologist. A member of the City Council. Environmental educators, three of them, one with a guitar and, we find out later, a beautiful singing voice.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">Ranging in age from 18 to 90 years, we are the people attending Democracy School in Bellingham. Our political preferences might vary widely, but we seem to share a sense that traditional politics is failing us.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong>Resurrecting Democracy</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">Democracy School is taught by environmental attorney Thomas Linzey, the co-founder of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (celdf.org), and Mari Margil, Associate Director of CELDF. Democracy School is sponsored locally by Living Democracy, a movement which aims to resurrect democracy at the community level.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">During a two-day workshop April 1-2, Thomas spoke of an emerging drive across the country toward rights-based democracy, to replace the current legal system built around priorities of commerce and property. The Declaration of Independence is rights-based, while the U.S. Constitution is not.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">Unfortunately, only the Constitution is law. The Declaration is a brilliant document, but it is a statement of beliefs and intentions with no legally binding authority – so says the Supreme Court.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">To date, Thomas Linzey and his colleagues have enabled 120 communities to pass rights-based ordinances. The concept is beginning to spread globally. To create a rights-based system of law for the entire nation, we will need to alter the Constitution. That is where this movement is headed. Authority in America is top down; we need to upend it.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">Thomas and Mari have given us a spiral-bound book of resource readings including, “Betraying the Revolution: A Minority Replicates the English Structure of Law Through the Adoption of the U.S. Constitution.” Understanding our system of law is a major part of what Democracy School is all about. This movement, “Living Democracy,” does not lend itself to sound bites or slogans, but basically it seems to be about reviving democracy and autonomous decision-making at a local level.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong>Turn Failure Into Success</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">We begin our study by examining the success and simultaneous failure of Thomas’s work as an environmental attorney. In the early years of his practice, Thomas won 138 cases and lost three, and as a successful environmental lawyer, won awards from environmental groups.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">He was even honored at the White House. But Thomas says that despite winning cases, he realized that his clients were no better off. They continue to be overwhelmed by the corporations that he had helped them to fight. He was winning, but he felt like a failure.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong>How It Really Works</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">The battle is fought over the granting of regulatory permits. Corporate lawyers may not be very good at permit applications, but they don’t have to be. People like Thomas teach them how to do it more effectively by opposing them. After each loss, the corporate attorneys take what they’ve learned and file a new, improved application. The cost of losing means little to a wealthy corporation. Thomas was training corporate attorneys to succeed and his clients were going broke by being forced back into court. In the end it seems, the corporation always gets the permit.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">One of the problems is that the corporate attorneys are the ones who are writing the regulations. We fight on their terms, in an arena which they define. The system is designed to exhaust us and that is what it does. You might win all of the battles and still lose in the end. It isn’t unusual to go through 10 or 15 court battles. To them, going to court is just a cost of doing business, and it’s tax deductible.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong>Protect or Regulate?</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">A popular belief is that our regulatory agencies protect us. Actually, the function of regulatory agencies is to regulate the public. By defining how we’re allowed to protest corporate power, we’re limited in how we can fight. Because the arena is circumscribed, so is our ability to prevail. We are forced to fight about something concrete and specific, like parts-per-million-allowable-levels-of-toxins in the water, and never about our right to refuse to have any toxins in our water. The fight is never about our right to be left alone to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">The irony is that the environmental laws actually allow harm. The harm may be only at a maximum allowable level, but each project adds to the accumulated net harm. Environmental laws are not protecting us. They just create the illusion that somebody is doing something about environmental destruction.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">Recall how colleges and universities, reacting to the massive demonstrations against the war in Vietnam, established what they called (with no trace of irony) free speech areas on campus – usually an enclosed space that could hold a few hundred people at most. Universities are supposed to be all about free speech. By limiting the places where unsanctioned speech is allowed to occur, it becomes clear that if this had ever been true, it no longer is. As a tactic to stifle demonstrations in other settings, containment has been widely adopted.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong>Money Rules</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">Mari explains further: What has evolved in our tradition of law is that the highest values of our nation are commerce and property, not the rights of communities, not the rights of workers, not the protection of the natural environment. Whoever owns a piece of land, or any company with a permit to exploit the land, has little obligation to preserve it. The law sides with the owner, or with the permit holder, because in our legal system, commercial and property rights supersede all others.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">Environmental laws were never intended to protect the rights of people, but rather to protect the rights of a privileged minority to exploit a community’s natural resources. Environmental laws don’t help people thrive in their natural environment and they certainly don’t protect nature for its own sake. In the same way, labor laws were never intended to protect workers. Instead, they prevent disruption of commerce by limiting how workers are allowed organize in order to improve working conditions.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">Since the passage of basic environmental laws 40 years ago, the situation has gotten worse by every major index, but not for lack of effort on the part of citizens. We win enough victories to keep us hopeful that someday soon, we’ll figure out how to prevail by working within the regulatory arena. Yet many victories prove to be temporary. Citizens are fragmented, working on narrowly defined, single-issue problems in scattered ways that lack coordination or overall purpose.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong>Push and Pull</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">Invariably, we fight against a specific damage, and rarely for something as broad as the right of a community to control its own destiny. We have been fighting symptoms, rather than getting at the core of the disease: excessive corporate legal power.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">Only a minority of citizens realize the extent of corporate legal power. A corporation makes you an offer that you can’t refuse. We are not free to say no to factory farms, spreading of toxic sewage sludge, mining of ground water, big box stores, toxic waste incinerators, destructive mining practices and the like. For most projects, a community cannot legally say no.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">To say “no” is to provoke a lawsuit seeking damages for impeding the right of the corporation to make a profit. The lawsuit will demand compensation for lost-opportunity costs. It sounds like a joke, but it is not.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong>What’s in a Name?</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">The power of wealthy corporations is a fundamental problem that never before has been attacked directly. Thomas illustrates with a story of how toxic sewage sludge is being used as an agricultural fertilizer. To improve the image of sludge, the industry trade association rebranded it as “biosolids.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">Sludge provoked a revolt in rural Pennsylvania, where people wanted nothing to do with it. The sad irony of the story is that Democracy School is named for Daniel Pennock, one of two children who died of exposure to sludge.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">What happened in rural Pennsylvania illustrates the extent to which corporate power has become a fact of life in the United States. The astonishing part of the story is that townships, one after another, passed local ordinances which stripped corporations of their rights to do business as “persons” within the boundaries of the township. Illegal? Yes. But for people who were literally about to be shit upon, there was no other option."</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><em>author David Hopkinson is retired and lives with his wife Judy in Bellingham’s York Neighborhood. They are members of the Living Democracy Initiating Group (LDIG) in Bellingham.</em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><em><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><font color="#000000"><span xml:lang="en-US" lang="en-US">Editor’s Note: This article was written by David Hopkinson with the assistance and contributions of several members of the Living Democracy Initiating Group (LDIG) in Bellingham. The article will continue next month in Whatcom Watch, as the LDIG discusses rights-based framing and how small communities are gaining power. “ endquote</span></font></font></font></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong>For Additional Info</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><font color="#000000"><span xml:lang="en-US" lang="en-US"> Democracy School weekends will continue to be scheduled. For info on future school date in Bellingham, email Stoney Bird: <a href="mailto:ldig@ymail.com">ldig@ymail.com</a></span></font></font></font></p>Ideas for a Local Economy & Happy Planet Indextag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-05-06:2723460:BlogPost:499292011-05-06T22:00:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Seventeen Rules for a Sustainable Community -</strong> “If the members of a local community want their community to cohere, to flourish, and to last, these are some things they would do” -Wendell Berry </span></font></font></font></strong> <strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> …</span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Seventeen Rules for a Sustainable Community -</strong> “If the members of a local community want their community to cohere, to flourish, and to last, these are some things they would do” -Wendell Berry </span></font></font></font></strong> <strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <a href="http://wildresiliencyblog.com/2007/10/02/seventeen-rules-for-a-sustainable-community%E2%80%94wendell-berry/">http://wildresiliencyblog.com/2007/10/02/seventeen-rules-for-a-sustainable-community%E2%80%94wendell-berry/</a> * * * * *</span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Which is the happiest country using the least earth resources?</strong> Can you guess it correctly? I've been there! Such a wonderful memory of people who are proud of working together with their hands, who share their families & their homes. The local bus rides are a family affair! And strangers are invited for a meal of rice & beans! Although there is some mountain deforestation from overgrazing of cattle, the college students are studying ecological restoration & protecting their forest preserves.</span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>5 Happiness Keys:</strong> "<strong>Connect – Be Active – Notice – Keep Learning – Give”</strong></span></font></font></font></strong> <strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">- from “Happy Planet Index” TED talk-</span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">View this short video about happy cultures: 16” TED Video “<strong>The Happy Planet Index – Nic Marks</strong>” July 2010 - <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/nic_marks_the_happy_planet_index.html">http://www.ted.com/talks/nic_marks_the_happy_planet_index.html</a> </span></font></font></font></strong> <strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">quote <em>“Statistician Nic Marks asks why we measure a nation's success by its productivity -- instead of by the happiness and well-being of its people. He introduces the Happy Planet Index, which tracks national well-being against resource use (because a happy life doesn't have to cost the earth). Which countries rank highest in the HPI? You might be surprised</em>.” </span></font></font></font></strong> <strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">* * * </span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="font-size-3"><strong>One of our American elders, Wendell Berry – farmer,writer, poet – has written about happiness, stewardship, and sustainable & local economy since the late 70's</strong> – post the industrial 'green revolution' of oil-based cultures. His words hold grace & truth.</span></span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">* * <span class="font-size-3"><strong>'The Idea of a Local Economy</strong></span>” * * 2001 <a href="http://www.organicconsumers.org/btc/berry.cfm">http://www.organicconsumers.org/btc/berry.cfm</a> Highly recommended to read!</span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font color="#000000">“ <font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><span class="font-size-3">Thoughts In the Presence of Fear</span>”</strong> 2001 - <a href="http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/214/">http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/214/</a></span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span class="font-size-3">Seventeen Rules for a Sustainable Community</span></strong></span> - <strong>Wendell Berry</strong></span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">1. Always ask of any proposed change or innovation: What will this do to our community? How will this affect our common wealth.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">2. Always include local nature – the land, the water, the air, the native creatures – within the membership of the community.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">3. Always ask how local needs might be supplied from local sources, including the mutual help of neighbours.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">4. Always supply local needs first (and only then think of exporting products – first to nearby cities, then to others).</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">5. Understand the ultimate unsoundness of the industrial doctrine of ‘labour saving’ if that implies poor work, unemployment, or any kind of pollution or contamination.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">6. Develop properly scaled value-adding industries for local products to ensure that the community does not become merely a colony of national or global economy.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">7. Develop small-scale industries and businesses to support the local farm and/or forest economy.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">8. Strive to supply as much of the community’s own energy as possible.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">9. Strive to increase earnings (in whatever form) within the community for as long as possible before they are paid out.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">10. Make sure that money paid into the local economy circulates within the community and decrease expenditures outside the community.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">11. Make the community able to invest in itself by maintaining its properties, keeping itself clean (without dirtying some other place), caring for its old people, and teaching its children.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">12. See that the old and young take care of one another. The young must learn from the old, not necessarily, and not always in school. There must be no institutionalised childcare and no homes for the aged. The community knows and remembers itself by the association of old and young.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">13. Account for costs now conventionally hidden or externalised. Whenever possible, these must be debited against monetary income.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">14. Look into the possible uses of local currency, community-funded loan programmes, systems of barter, and the like.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">15. Always be aware of the economic value of neighbourly acts. In our time, the costs of living are greatly increased by the loss of neighbourhood, which leaves people to face their calamities alone.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">16. A rural community should always be acquainted and interconnected with community-minded people in nearby towns and cities.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">17.</font> <strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A sustainable rural economy will depend on urban consumers loyal to local products. Therefore, we are talking about an economy that will always be more cooperative than competitive. </span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; font-weight: normal;"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(Online Version & posters also available) - <a href="http://wildresiliencyblog.com/2007/10/02/seventeen-rules-for-a-sustainable-community%E2%80%94wendell-berry/">http://wildresiliencyblog.com/2007/10/02/seventeen-rules-for-a-sustainable-community%E2%80%94wendell-berry/</a></span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; font-weight: normal;"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">* * * * *</span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p> <strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>David Pike's blog on</strong> “<strong>The Unsettling of America, Culture and Agriculture</strong>” - by Wendell Berry <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/summary-of-wendell-berry-the">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/summary-of-wendell-berry-the</a></span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span>Also see David M blog</span></font></font></font> <font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>“ Economics of Happiness</strong>” <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/economics-of-happiness">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/economics-of-happiness</a></span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thanks for inspiring us David! </span></font></font></font></strong> <strong><font color="#000000">“</font></strong><strong><font color="#000000"><em><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Social ties — friends and family and community; a feeling of</span></font></font></em></font></strong> <strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><em>safety and security because we know that we belong, that we’re cared for, that we will not be left alone and abandoned”</em></span></span></font></font></font></strong> <strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">-</span></span></font></font></font></strong> <em><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Cecile Andrews</span></span></font></font></font></em></p>Earth Medicine -(Nettle & Seaweed Protectors)tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-04-09:2723460:BlogPost:479302011-04-09T22:22:54.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>Nettle Nourishment!</strong> Links on stinging nettle, seaweed, & other green medicines, including low dose radiation protection idea.</span></font></em> <br></br>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>Nourishing Stinging Nettle (Urtica sp.)</strong>- Once juiced, blended, dried & crushed, or cooked they lose their "sting" and are the temperate climates first spring wild…</span></font></em></p>
<em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>Nettle Nourishment!</strong> Links on stinging nettle, seaweed, & other green medicines, including low dose radiation protection idea.</span></font></em> <br/>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>Nourishing Stinging Nettle (Urtica sp.)</strong>- Once juiced, blended, dried & crushed, or cooked they lose their "sting" and are the temperate climates first spring wild nourishment! Yummy in soups or stir-fried!</span></font></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Remember to dry or freeze some for next winters nourishment. Harvest their seeds in the summer, and the roots in the fall. The stems can be made into twine! Transplant a few in your garden or forest edges! (3/11)</span></font></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></font></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">(Spring Dandilion greens are big & juicy, and the leaves not too bitter in early spring.)</span></font></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><em>(Click 'follow' if you want to be notified as more info is added to this blog</em>). <br/></span></font></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></font></em><em> </em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Stinging Nettle as a farm crop</span></font></em></strong> <strong><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">-video</span></font></em></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2vXlEPhwBE"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2vXlEPhwBE</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Salmon Nettle Soup with native ingrediants - video</span></font></em></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfFbDcaFcTo"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfFbDcaFcTo</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></font></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>Harvesting Nettles with Children</strong>- <em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Whole Life Nutrition-<em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Great article & pictures from Ali's blog!</span></font></em></span></font></em></span></font></em><em><a href="http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2010/02/harvesting-nettles-with-children.html"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2010/02/harvesting-nettles-with-children.html</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em> </em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Sea Vegetables for Food & Nutritional</span></font></em></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://www.ryandrum.com/seaxpan1.html"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://www.ryandrum.com/seaxpan1.html</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<h6 class="western" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in;"></h6>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Nutritional Protection from Radiation</span></font></em></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://seedoflifenutrition.com/headline/nutritional-protection-from-radiation/"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://seedoflifenutrition.com/headline/nutritional-protection-from-radiation/</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Wise Woman Ways-Antidotes for X-rays & Radiation-</span></font></em></strong> <strong><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">herbalist Susun Weed (thanks Lia for link!)</span></span></font></strong> <em><a href="http://planetthrive.com/2007/12/antidotes-for-x-rays/"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://planetthrive.com/2007/12/antidotes-for-x-rays/</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>David Wolfe Quote:</strong> "In light of the meltdown of Fukushima: How to protect yourself & yur thyroid against radiation: kelp, ginseng, ashwaganda (recently found to regrow nerves), chlorella, zeolites, fulvic acid, nascent iodine, reishi mushroom, sea salt (&salty miso), botanical (plant-derived) or lipo- vitamin C, magnesium (chlorophyll), selenium (brazil nuts), coconut butter, Megahydrate, Crystal Energy. Spread the word."</span></font></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Radiation Toxicity Antidotes-</span></font></em></strong><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">.Within a host of valuable detail, this jumps out:</span></font></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><em> "Q: What is the one least expensive method to protect oneself from radioactive fallout? A: Eating an abundance of sea vegetables (all edible seaweeds) at each meal...while eliminating all refined foods, especially sugar."</em></span></font></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://doctorapsley.com/RadiationTherapy.aspx"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://doctorapsley.com/RadiationTherapy.aspx</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Earth Gardens Discussion on Medicinal Plants & Fungi</span></font></em></strong> <em><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/medicinal-plantsfungi"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/medicinal-plantsfungi</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em> </em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><span style="font-style: normal;">Nettle Resource Books:</span></em></strong></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><em><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></em></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>“<span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>Healing Wise'</strong> – Susun S Weed,</span></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>“<span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West</strong>” - Michael Moore,</span></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><strong>“</strong><span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>Plant Technology”</strong> - Nancy J. Turner</span></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><strong>“</strong><span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West”</strong> - Gregory L. Tilford</span></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>"Pacific Seaweeds- A Guide to Commn Seaweeds of the West Coast</strong>" - Louis Druehl</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">* * * * * *</span></font></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="font-size-3"><strong><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Other Favorite Links & Videos:</span></font></em></strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="3"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Online Resources, Videos, Libraries for Permaculturists/Edible Forest Gardeners</span></font></em></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/online-resources-videos"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/online-resources-videos</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Books Treasured & Useful</span></font></em></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/books-treasured-useful"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/books-treasured-useful</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">The Green Beautiful - video</span></font></em></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5CmMm_SRpM"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5CmMm_SRpM</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Godspeed - video</span></font></em></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Videos po</span></font></em><font size="2">sted by Garsett Larosse</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://www.facebook.com/earthcaregarden#!/video/video.php?v=10150276954615457&comments"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://www.facebook.com/earthcaregarden#!/video/video.php?v=10150276954615457&comments</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><em><span style="font-style: normal;"><strong> </strong></span></em></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><em><span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>Gardens of Destiny</strong> - with Dan Jason (Part 1 of 8)- video</span></em></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMjGg9GeKPk&feature=player_embedded"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMjGg9GeKPk&feature=player_embedded</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Closed Canopy Gardening - video</span></font></em></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/paulwheaton12#p/u/0/-o2kVOyE5Ww"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://www.youtube.com/paulwheaton12#p/u/0/-o2kVOyE5Ww</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<h1 class="western" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font size="3"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>Colony Collapse Disorder</strong> prevention turns out to be easy - video</span></font></em></font></h1>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MusqTKZ83I"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MusqTKZ83I</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>Wild Crafted Herbs & Storeage</strong> - Skeeter - video</span></font></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q47SiCupPqg"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q47SiCupPqg</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>Eckhart Tolle webcast links</strong> from 2008- author of “A New Earth” and “The Power of Now”</span></font></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/Watch-A-New-Earth-Web-Classes-on-Oprahcom"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/Watch-A-New-Earth-Web-Classes-on-Oprahcom</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<h2 class="western" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span class="font-size-2">"<strong>O</strong></span><a href="http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/eliot-coleman-in-the-atlantic-online-a-visit-from-maines-organic-gardening-guru/"><font color="#000000"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><span class="font-size-2">f course</span> organic farming can feed the world,”</strong> Coleman said. The audience was dumbstruck.</span></span></font></span></font></a></em></h2>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/eliot-coleman-in-the-atlantic-online-a-visit-from-maines-organic-gardening-guru/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChelseaGreen+%28Chelsea+Green%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/eliot-coleman-in-the-atlantic-online-a-visit-from-maines-organic-gardening-guru/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChelseaGreen+%28Chelsea+Green%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher</span></font></a></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<h1 class="western" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">Toby Hemenway - How Permaculture Can Save Humanity and the Earth, but Not Civilization - video</span></font></em></strong></h1>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nLKHYHmPbo"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nLKHYHmPbo</span></font></a></em><font size="2"><strong> </strong></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><strong>The Myth of the Herbal Detox</strong>- Sean Donahue</font> <em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/earthcaregarden#!/notes/sean-donahue/the-myth-of-the-herbal-detox/480958579607">http://www.facebook.com/earthcaregarden#!/notes/sean-donahue/the-myth-of-the-herbal-detox/480958579607</a></span></font></em></p>Community Club Meetings & Grange Hall Listings- Garden or Permaculture Relatedtag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-03-22:2723460:BlogPost:466062011-03-22T22:30:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<strong><font size="2"><u>Listing of Local Monthly Club Meetings & Grange Halls:</u></font></strong><br></br>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">(Let me know if I've missed something you'd like me to add in)</span></font></strong></p>
<p style="text-decoration: none;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2">Washington Native Plant Society</font></strong> <font size="2">– Koma…</font></p>
<strong><font size="2"><u>Listing of Local Monthly Club Meetings & Grange Halls:</u></font></strong><br/>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">(Let me know if I've missed something you'd like me to add in)</span></font></strong></p>
<p style="text-decoration: none;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2">Washington Native Plant Society</font></strong> <font size="2">– Koma Kulshan</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">Meets most 3</font><sup><font size="2">rd</font></sup> <font size="2">Weds & open to public. Offers hikes/walks/camping events. Link- <a href="http://www.wnps.org/chapter_info/chapter_programs.html#koma">http://www.wnps.org/chapter_info/chapter_programs.html#koma</a></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2">Birchwood Garden Club</font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">The friendly urban garden club, open to all. Meets once a month, but not all months (usually 1st Weds) <a href="http://www.birchwoodgardenclub.org/">http://www.birchwoodgardenclub.org/</a></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2">( Attend as my guest or join the club! )</font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2">Everson Garden Club</font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">Members meet 2<sup>nd</sup> Weds of most months 7pm and hold one of the best spring plant sales!</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">Link- <a href="http://www.whatcomcounts.org/whatcom/index.php?module=pnLocalResources&func=viewDetail&id=71">http://www.whatcomcounts.org/whatcom/index.php?module=pnLocalResources&func=viewDetail&id=71</a></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2">Northwest Mushroomers Association</font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">Join to receive emails of presentations, walks, survivors banquet- Meets most 2</font><sup><font size="2">nd</font></sup> <font size="2">Thursday. Learn your mushrooms with an expert before using or collecting! See website for specific dates! <a href="http://www.northwestmushroomers.org/">http://www.northwestmushroomers.org/</a></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2">North Cascades Audubon Club </font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">Meets most 4</font><sup><font size="2">th</font></sup> <font size="2">Tuesdays & offers birdwatching walks & camping events. Open to public.. Link- <a href="http://www.northcascadesaudubon.org/">http://www.northcascadesaudubon.org/</a></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2">Mt. Bakers Beekeepers Meeting</font></strong><font size="2"> </font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">Most most second Weds of month-</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/mt-baker-beekeepers"><font size="2">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/mt-baker-beekeepers</font></a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">Attend as my guest or join the club.</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Master Gardener Foundation Club Meetings</font></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Most 2<sup>nd</sup> Thursdays of the month. 6:30 non-formal social time, and 7:00pm with guest speakers.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">The meetings are open to the public & free of charge. Bring a friend!</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Location: WSU Whatcom County Extension Office, 1000 North</font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Forest Street, Bellingham. Please use the Laurel St. entrance.</font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Weeder's Digest- <a href="http://whatcom.wsu.edu/mastergardener/newsletter/WD_2011_04.pdf">http://whatcom.wsu.edu/mastergardener/newsletter/WD_2011_04.pdf</a></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Or- <a href="http://whatcom.wsu.edu/mastergardener/">http://whatcom.wsu.edu/mastergardener/</a></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">D.U.P.I. Garden Club Meeting</font></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Meets most 3<sup>rd</sup> Tues of the month 12:00-2:30pm. BYO Lunch.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Cordata Community Coop.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Check Herald paper for current details.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<br />
<p style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; font-weight: normal;"><font size="4" style="font-size: 13pt;"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">Mt. Baker Garden Club</font></font></font></strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2"> - Meets in county at Rome Grange: 2821 Mt. Baker Hwy past Y Rd. First Thurs of each month except Jan & July. <strong>*</strong></font></font></font> <strong><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">Annual plant sale 1</font></font></font></strong><strong><font color="#000000"><sup><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">st</font></font></sup></font></strong> </strong><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Sat of May</strong>.</span></font></font></font></strong> <font color="#000000"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">Annual picnic in July <a href="http://chuckanutwa.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/General_Info_as_of_03-13-2011.71184745.pdf">http://chuckanutwa.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/General_Info_as_of_03-13-2011.71184745.pdf</a></font></font></font></font> & <a href="http://www.chuckanutwa.org/district_clubs">http://www.chuckanutwa.org/district_clubs</a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2">Dahlia Club-</font></strong> <font size="2">Meets most 1st Mondays 7pm at Laurel Grange and offers annual spring tuber sale (usually 1st Sat in April ) and annual flowering dahlia judged show. We have some of the top dahlia hybridizers in our area! Dahlias are from Mexico & tubers used to be eaten...I've not yet found a tasty one...but plenty of beauty & pollen for the bees!</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">* * * * * * * *</font></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2">Whatcom County Local Grange Halls-Contacts-Links</font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.wa-grange.org/localgrange.html"><font size="2">http://www.wa-grange.org/localgrange.html</font></a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">(scroll down on link & click on Whatcom)-</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">Learn where your closest grange is at and connect in.</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font size="2">Rome #226</font></strong><font size="2"><br/>2821 Mt. Baker Hwy, Bellingham<br/>Meets 2nd & 4th Wednesdays at 7:00pm<br/>Rental contact: Judy - (360)671-9217. judyvanb25 -at- gmail.com</font></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font size="2">Ten Mile #399</font></strong><font size="2"><br/>6958 Hannegan Rd., Lynden<br/>Meets 2nd Thursdays at 7:30pm<br/>Rental contact: Lew - (360)733-4487<br/>olgaskill -at- comcast.net</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font size="2">Laurel #208</font></strong><font size="2"><br/>6172 Guide Meridian, Lynden<br/>Meets 2nd Saturdays at 1:00pm<br/>Rental contact-Jill - (360)398-7455<br/>E-mail jmhorgen -at-aol.com</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font size="2">Haynie #169</font></strong><font size="2"><br/>3344 Haynie Rd., Custer<br/>Meets 2nd & 4th Fridays at 7:30pm<br/>Rental contact: Cindy - (360)366-5623<br/>leximama99 -at- hotmail.com</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font size="2">North Bellingham #201</font></strong><font size="2"><br/>Corner of Northwest Rd & Smith Rd<br/>Meets 1st Thursdays at 1:00pm <br/>Rental contact: Mike - (360)752-2453<br/>polspindoctor - at- yahoo.com</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font size="2">Hopewell #518</font></strong><font size="2"><br/>3441 Hopewell Rd. Everson<br/>Meets 1st Thursdays at 7:00pm<br/>Rental contact: Gary - (360)671-3689</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong><font size="2">Lummi Island #925</font></strong><font size="2"><br/>2215 N. Nugent Rd., Lummi Island<br/>Meets 1st Wednesdays at 6:30pm<br/>Rental contact: Leslie - (206)818-9500<br/>leslie -at- limpidarts.com</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p><br/><br/></p>
<p> </p>Fruit Research Foundation & Protecting Pollinatorstag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-03-06:2723460:BlogPost:450432011-03-06T21:30:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;"><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;">Western Washington Fruit Research Foundation ( WWFRF ) holds th…</span></span></font></font></strong></font></span></span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;"><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;">Western Washington Fruit Research Foundation ( WWFRF ) holds th<font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;">e best educational & hands on events of our region! </span></span></font></font></strong></font> Our members bring in the best speakers & instructors</span></span></font></font></strong></font> at least twice a year! </span></span></font></font></strong></font> <font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;">These events take place in Skagit county at their fruit research gardens. <a href="http://www.wwfrf.org/">http://www.wwfrf.org/</a> . </span></span></font></font></strong></font> <font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;">This year was the best ever Winter Field Day with presenters on pollinators including mason bees, honey bees, bumble bees, and pruning demonstations!</span></span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;">Also, greatly beloved <strong>Sam from Raintree Nursery travels north each year</strong> and brings scion cuttings & rootstocks from his nursery to sell.</span></span></font></font></strong><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;"> </span></span></font></font></strong> <strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;"><a href="http://www.raintreenursery.com/catalog/producttype.cfm?producttype=Workshops">http://www.raintreenursery.com/catalog/producttype.cfm?producttype=Workshops</a></span></span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p><strong><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;">These events are not to be missed if you're caring or planting an edible forest garden!</span></span></font></font></strong></font></strong></p>
<p><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;"> (Future dates posted below).</span></span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p><strong><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;">*** One of the highlights was learning about a blue mason bee project from Dave Hunter with CrownBees.com!</span></span></font></font></strong></font></strong></p>
<p><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;"><strong>Bee sure to create more bumble bee & mason bee habitats in your home zone!</strong></span></span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;"><strong>To receive Dave's timely emails on caring for your mason bees sign up on his website</strong> - <a href="http://www.crownbees.com/faq/troubleshooting-general">http://www.crownbees.com/faq/troubleshooting-general</a></span></span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;"> </span></span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Below is a list of the topics & great speakers that were present for March 2011.</span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Thanks to Christy Nieto & Fruit Research Foundation friends for a great day!</span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;">To be notified of future Fruit Research Foundation events, join the Earth Gardens network- <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic?xg_source=activity">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic?xg_source=activity</a></span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And also read the Garden E-News that Shannon sends out.</span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Or become a member of the Western WA Fruit Research Foundation, like myself & many other fruit loops.</span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;">* * * * * *</span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;">March 6</span></font></font></strong><strong><font color="#000000"><sup><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></font></sup></font></strong> <strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2011 Program & Speaker Names posted below:</span></font></font></strong></font></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Marketplace</span></font></font></strong> <strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in West Room</span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">8:30 – 10:00 & ROOTSTOCK & SCIONWOOD SALES <font face="Arial-BoldItalicMT, cursive"><i>(No apple scionwood from the</i></font></font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldItalicMT, cursive"><font size="2"><i>FruitGarden due to anthracnose, but other uncontaminated apple</i></font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldItalicMT, cursive"><font size="2"><i>scionwood will be available from other sources.) Sam from Raintree Nursery Comes each year and brings scions & rootstocks from his nursery to sell!</i></font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">* HONEY TASTING TABLE</font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">* GRAFTING OF PURCHASED SCIONS & ROOTSTOCK (with Bill Davis,</font></font></font> <font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">Greg Giulani, Bernie Hilgart)</font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">Workshops, Lectures and Panels in Auditorium</font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">* RELIABLE GRAFTING (with Bernie Hilgart)</font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">* HONEY BEE COLONY COLLAPSE SYNDROME (with Tim Lawrence)</font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">* BEYOND HONEY BEES: the Other Pollinators (with Dave Hunter)</font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">* PANEL ON POLLINATORS (with Tim Lawrence, Dave Hunter, David Feinberg,</font></font></font> <font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">James Tunnell, Bill Davis)</font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">Demonstrations in the FruitGarden</font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">* HONEY BEES <font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">(with David Feinberg & Tim Lawrence)</font></font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">* PRUNING PEACHES, PLUMS, YOUNG TREES (<font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">with Bob Norton)</font></font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">* TOP GRAFTING OLDER TREES <font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">(with Bernie Hilgart)</font></font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">* ESPALIER <font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">(with Kristan Johnson)</font></font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">* PRUNING OLDER TREES <font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">(with Bob Baines)</font></font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">* PRUNING THE ODDITIES: gooseberries, currants, et al. <font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">(with Diane Hall)</font></font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">* WORKING WITH MASON BEES <font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">(with Dave Hunter)</font></font></font></font></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><font size="2">* PRUNING BLUEBERRIES <font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">(with De Arborgast)</font></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font size="2"><font face="Arial-BoldMT">* PRUNING GRAPES</font> <font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">(with Jim Taylor)</font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> * * * * * * * </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><strong><font size="2"><font color="#000000"><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">Whatcom Friends- Possible speaker for someone to bring up north in the future. </font></font></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font size="2"><font color="#000000"><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">Speaker Timothy Lawrence, PhD, County Director, Island County Extension WA State U </font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font size="2"><font color="#000000"><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">Coupeville, <a href="mailto:timothy.lawrence@wsu.edu">timothy.lawrence@wsu.edu</a> (360)240-5558</font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font size="2"><font color="#000000"><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif"> I think the master gardener foundation could pursue this with our local extension, or maybe someone will host event at Inspiration Farm.</font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font size="2"><font color="#000000"><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">Dave Hunter with blue mason bees and CrownBees.com said best time for him to travel north would be February.</font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <strong> <font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT">* * * * * *</font></font></strong></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><strong><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT">Annual WWFRF Events:</font></font></strong></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><u><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;">Winter Field Day</span></span></u></font></strong><strong><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;">, held on the 1st Saturday in March, consists of: Hands-on pruning in the Fruit Garden, Scionwood and rootstock sale. Pest control. Soil fertility. Grafting, learn how to graft your own fruit tree!</span></span></font></strong></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;"> </span></span></font></strong></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font size="2"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;"><u>Summer Fruit Festival</u>, held on the 4th Saturday in August, covers: Morning lectures, Afternoon: Food & fruit tasting. Garden tours</span></font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font size="2"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;"><u>Sample the Harvest Days</u>: (open to members only)-Two dates- </span></font></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font size="2"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;">Cherries (2nd Saturday in July). Apples & pears, cider tasting (2nd Saturday in October)</span></font></font></p>
<p><strong><font color="#000000"><font size="2"><u><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;">Fruit Garden</span></span></u></font></font></strong><font color="#000000"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;">:</span></span></font></font> <font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;">(under construction and maintained by volunteers)- often meets Thursday afternoons to maintain.. </span></span></font></font></font><strong><font color="#000000"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;"><font size="2"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The Fruit Garden displays over 11 fruit varieties on 262 trees and bushes throughout our 7 acres.</span></font></font></span></font></strong></p>
<p><strong><font color="#000000"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%;"><font size="2"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Volunteer members from Whatcom sometimes carpool down to work in the gardens. - <a href="http://www.wwfrf.org/volunteers.htm">http://www.wwfrf.org/volunteers.htm</a></span></font></font></span></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong> </strong><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Arial-BoldMT"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>* * * * * </strong> *</span></font></font></strong></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font size="2"><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">I'll add/organize more on this blog later.</font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font size="2"><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">Link from 2011 event page here- </font></font></font><font size="2"><font color="#000000"><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif"> <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/xn/detail/2723460:Event:42403?xg_source=activity">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/xn/detail/2723460:Event:42403?xg_source=activity</a></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><strong><font size="2"><font color="#000000"><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">Share your thoughts, ideas & experiences!</font></font></font></strong></p>Herbicidal Contamination of our Farmlands & Waters! Enough! (And Say No to GMO!)tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-02-15:2723460:BlogPost:437922011-02-15T02:00:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">Can We Create Solutions to Protect the health of the soils & waters of our homeland? </font></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">Can we resist & eliminate toxic abuse from corporations selling products that do Not have strong scientific evidence showing our lands & waters will be kept pure & safe for the children?…</font></font></p>
<p></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">Can We Create Solutions to Protect the health of the soils & waters of our homeland? </font></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">Can we resist & eliminate toxic abuse from corporations selling products that do Not have strong scientific evidence showing our lands & waters will be kept pure & safe for the children?</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">Is it time to say Enough! ( Basta !) No more contamination of soil & waters by corporate toxic herbicides like aminopyralid & corporate GMO seeds! </font></font></font></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">Share your questions & knowledge on this blog-discussion.</font></font></strong></font></font></p>
<p> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">How can we create a united community that supports & preserves resilient family farms whether they market dairy, vegi/fruit, or animal? Can we learn to support our scientists & know when to ask for more research before allowing application of chemicals?</font></font></p>
<p> <br/>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</p>
<p><font size="2"><strong>Scroll to bottom page to read new comments from Local Farmer</strong></font> <strong><font size="2">Walter & Heather K</font></strong></p>
<p><strong><font size="2">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</font></strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><font size="2">Informative Links:</font></strong></span></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong> “Healing Toxic Soils & Waters</strong>..”</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/healing-toxic-soils-waters"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/healing-toxic-soils-waters</font></font></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2">* Biochar and sequestration of toxics – By Richard Haard</font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/biochar-and-sequestration-of"><font size="2">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/biochar-and-sequestration-of</font></a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong>Newcomers to the issue of local soil & water contimination</strong> - below are links to some extensive info that was shared last summer in regards to our local dairy compost containing toxic herbicide -aminopyralid- that was sold to vegetable growers & farmers and thus reduced their ability to grow edible crops for our community.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"><b>Background & Resource Info</b>:</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">In 2010 Whatcom County & Bellingham's growers of vegetables (ie. non grass family plants that herbicides are targeted to harm), have experienced unexpected damage from the herbicide Aminopyralid that was spread through dairy manure-compost applied to soils & greenhouses.</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2">. (Location: temperate climate of Cascadia bioregion- 48-49 degree N. latitude).</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Over the past few years, other regions & countries have also experienced this challenge with the same chemical – Amnopyralid and with some earlier herbicides.</span></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p><font size="2">The chemical Aminpyalid, has been manufactored by Dow AgroScience and also goes by many other names & slightly different chemical combinations ( Banish, Forefront, Halcyon, Pharaoh, Pro-Banish, Runway, Synero, Upfront, and more).</font></p>
<p><font size="2">Although there are many good people researching this topic, the solutions are not applicable to all sites or situations.</font></p>
<p><font size="2">Many of us understand that our American tax funded University Agricultural Extension Service (with a history of also being funded by chemical corporations), has provided some information on this challenge, and we look forward to learning more from their best scientist....</font></p>
<p><font size="2">We understand this might take a longer time than what many of us are able to wait for while growing our food and stabilizing our regions food security.</font></p>
<p>Transition Whatcom discussions & blogs-</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="font-size-3">Solutions & Treatments</span></span> -</strong></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong> </strong></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong> “Healing Toxic Soils & Waters</strong>..”</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/healing-toxic-soils-waters"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/healing-toxic-soils-waters</font></font></a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"><b>Farmer Walter's blog discussion</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/a-new-problem-with-commercial"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/a-new-problem-with-commercial</font></font></a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<strong><font size="2">Biochar and sequestration of toxics – By Richard Haard</font></strong><br/>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/biochar-and-sequestration-of"><font size="2">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/biochar-and-sequestration-of</font></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><font size="3" style="font-size: 13pt;"><u>REFERENCES & SOURCES:</u></font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: none;">“<font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Herbicides in Compost” - WSDA fact sheet regarding issue of commercial & dairy compost containing damaging effects from herbicide residues as recently been released:</span></font></span></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://agr.wa.gov/pestfert/pesticides/docs/317-WhatcomCountyHerbicideCompostConcerns2010.pdf"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://agr.wa.gov/pestfert/pesticides/docs/317-WhatcomCountyHerbicideCompostConcerns2010.pdf</span></font></a></p>
<p><br/><br/></p>
<p><strong><font size="2">NY Dept Environmental Conservation</font></strong> <font size="2">(Division of Solid & Hazardous Materials) in 2007 “could not ensure that the labeled use of aminopyralid would not negatively impact groundwater resources”</font></p>
<p><a href="http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/herb-growthreg/24-d-butylate/aminopyralid/aminopyr_wth_0207.pdf"><font size="2">http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/herb-growthreg/24-d-butylate/aminopyralid/aminopyr_wth_0207.pdf</font></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Wikipedia-</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aminopyralid"><font size="2">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aminopyralid</font></a></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><font size="2">Website from Dow who manufacturers aminopyralid herbicide:</font></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><a href="http://www.manurematters.com/na/en/gardening.htm"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://www.manurematters.com/na/en/gardening.htm</span></font></a></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.manurematters.com/na/en/manure_sourcing.htm"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://www.manurematters.com/na/en/manure_sourcing.htm</span></font></a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.manurematters.com/na/en/equine_health.htm"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://www.manurematters.com/na/en/equine_health.htm</span></font></a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">"<strong>Keep Your Garden Safe from Killer 'Compost</strong> – Warning: Do not bring manure compost into your garden unless you're certain it doesn't contain aminopyralid residues” (- or its sister herbicidal chemicals). <strong>Mother Earth News 2011 article</strong> -</span></span></font></em> <a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/killer-compost-zmgz11zrog.aspx"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/killer-compost-zmgz11zrog.aspx</span></font></a><em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></font></em> <em><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thanks to Angela for the link - “ The EPA says their review will be complete in 2014 - until then the herbicide can still be used as is.”</span></span></font></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p><font size="3"><u><b>Research & Project Info:</b></u></font></p>
<p><font size="2">Aminopyralid Remediation</font></p>
<p><font size="2"><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/whatcommycologicalresponset">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/whatcommycologicalresponset</a><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/whatcommycologicalresponseteam/forum/topics/aminopyralid-remediation">...</a></font></p>
<p> </p>
<p><font size="2">Resources: Mycoremediation & Fungal Bioremediation</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/whatcommycologicalresponset">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/whatcommycologicalresponset</a><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/whatcommycologicalresponseteam/forum/topics/resources-mycoremediation">...</a></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="font-size-4" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><font size="2"><span>EVENTS:</span></font></strong></span></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">Local residents attended the WSU (Washington State University) Agricultural Extension program on Weds March 2, 2011 to listen to their scientists</font> presentations-</font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">(afternoon for farmers, and 2 in evenings for the rest of the community). <strong>We</strong></font></font> <strong><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">shared our concerns about the toxic herbicide- "aminopyralid"- that does Not have adequate research and that has already harmed the crops of many of our local family vegetable farmers. </font></font></strong> <strong><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">Together we can protect our lands & waters and say 'Enough!</font></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"> Past event info on</font></font> “<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Herbicide Contamination in Dairy Organic Matter” -Presentation by WSU Agr-Extension-March 2</span></i></font></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2">- </font></font> <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/herbicide-contamination-in">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/herbicide-contamination-in</a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">More links to follow as time allows!</p>Videos- Permaculture & Horticultural Lectures -plus- Edible Forest Garden Talkstag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-02-06:2723460:BlogPost:426902011-02-06T23:00:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p style="font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><font size="2">Gardens of Destiny (creating edible forest gardens & seed-saving)</font></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/video/gardens-of-destiny-with-dan"><font size="3"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/video/gardens-of-destiny-with-dan…</span></font></font></a></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><font size="2">Gardens of Destiny (creating edible forest gardens & seed-saving)</font></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/video/gardens-of-destiny-with-dan"><font size="3"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/video/gardens-of-destiny-with-dan</span></font></font></a></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><font size="2"><strong> </strong></font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><font size="2"><strong>Wild & Closed Canapy Gardening in Prepartion for Edible Forest Garden</strong> - with Skeeter</font></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/paulwheaton12#p/u/0/-o2kVOyE5Ww"><font size="3"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://www.youtube.com/paulwheaton12#p/u/0/-o2kVOyE5Ww</span></font></font></a></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><br/><strong><font size="2">Colony Collapse Disorder Prevention Turns Out To Be Easy</font></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MusqTKZ83I"><font size="3"><font size="2"><u><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MusqTKZ83I</span></u></font></font></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><font size="2">Fabulous Fava Beans with Farmer Walter!</font></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/video/fabulous-fava-beans-with"><font size="3"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/video/fabulous-fava-beans-with</span></font></font></a></p>
<p><br/><strong>Ecology Action's - Grow BioIntensive</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPeAvYrfKkU&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPeAvYrfKkU&feature=related</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngLN7hFlmXY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngLN7hFlmXY</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><font size="2"><strong><font size="2">Toby Hemenway-</font></strong> How Permaculture Can Save Humanity & the Earth, but Not Civilization</font></strong> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nLKHYHmPbo"><font size="3"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nLKHYHmPbo</span></font></font></a> (1 hour video lecture.)</p>
<p><font size="2">(Toby is a great scholar, permaculturist, gardener, & author of <em>'Gaia's Garden'</em>)</font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"> <font size="2">Yes its a long lecture,...but worth listening to more than once!</font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><font size="2">David Holmgren- <strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">“Permaculture & Peak Oil: Beyond Sustainability”-</span></font></font></font></strong></font></strong> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFjFG24BeX8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFjFG24BeX8</a></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>David Holmgren- <strong><font color="#000000"><span style="text-decoration: none;">“<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">Permaculture Principles”</font></font></span></font></strong></strong> - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Au-YIpSb0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Au-YIpSb0</a> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">For complete list of online books & videos for Permaculturists see-</span></font></font></font></strong></span></p>
<p><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> “</span></span></font></font></font></strong><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Online Resources, Videos, Libraries for Permaculturists/Edible Forest Gardener</b></span></font></font></font></strong><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">s”- <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/online-resources-videos">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/online-resources-videos</a></span></span></font></font></font></strong></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><font size="2">To be notified of future videos-</font></strong> <strong><font size="2">Click 'follow' on this page after signing on.</font></strong></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><font size="2">To receive my future blog posts, click 'follow' link on my blog page-</font></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?user=0tcvru41k5xlb"><font size="2">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?user=</font></a></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?user=0tcvru41k5xlb"><font size="2">0tcvru41k5xlb</font></a></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><font size="2">I'll post more videos later, and add to the comment section.</font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><font size="2">Share your thoughts & favorite videos.</font></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"> <br/><br/></p>Garden Share & Farmland Exchange: Bellingham & Whatcomtag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-01-25:2723460:BlogPost:411682011-01-25T01:30:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p>Here are Links for Gardener/Farmers Needing Access To Land - or - by those Offering Land to grow edibles.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Click on the links below to take you to the UrbanGardenShare online program:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Bellingham & beyond UrbanGardenShare link-</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.urbangardenshare.org/bellingham/">http://www.urbangardenshare.org/bellingham/…</a></p>
<p>Here are Links for Gardener/Farmers Needing Access To Land - or - by those Offering Land to grow edibles.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Click on the links below to take you to the UrbanGardenShare online program:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Bellingham & beyond UrbanGardenShare link-</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.urbangardenshare.org/bellingham/">http://www.urbangardenshare.org/bellingham/</a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Offer space and Create a Garden Listing:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.urbangardenshare.org/whatcom/garden/new">http://www.urbangardenshare.org/whatcom/garden/new</a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Offer your time and Create a Gardener Profile:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.urbangardenshare.org/whatcom/gardener/new">http://www.urbangardenshare.org/whatcom/gardener/new</a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>Let us know about your successes!</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We encourage those who prefer not to do online networking to-</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Ask your neighbors for garden/yard/farm space in exchange for sharing what you grow.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> * Post your needs/offerings in community grocery stores & coops & granges</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>Care for the land & each other! Share the abundance & your seeds! </strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>Earth Medicine - Mahoniatag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-01-23:2723460:BlogPost:413142011-01-23T08:30:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
Learning from Mahonia (or Oregon Grape) - Sharing our wisdom on using plants & fungi as both healing medicine & wild nourishment has taken place generations before the current modern pathway of extracting chemicals & patenting cures.<br></br>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Gathering with others in a circle to share healing stories, plant identification, and plant/fungi medicine-making, is something more of us are being called to do.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> …</p>
Learning from Mahonia (or Oregon Grape) - Sharing our wisdom on using plants & fungi as both healing medicine & wild nourishment has taken place generations before the current modern pathway of extracting chemicals & patenting cures.<br/>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Gathering with others in a circle to share healing stories, plant identification, and plant/fungi medicine-making, is something more of us are being called to do.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Early January, during a deep cold, I had the opportunity to seek & harvest a common NW forest understory plant - Mahonia or Oregon Grape. The medicinal tincture I made is still in process. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Below is a summary from written references combined with some personal experience.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I especially enjoy the sharing of personal healing stories & journeys, and the deepening of being in relationship with the living plant (& fungi) on the earth....May we share more as we are inspired.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A discussion on <em>'Medicinal Plants/Fungi & Ethnobotany'</em> is also located with our Earth Gardens network: <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/medicinal-plantsfungi">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/medicinal-plantsfungi</a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong> - Share your story - your wisdom - Share the earth's abundance -</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><strong> * </strong></span><span><strong> </strong></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><u>Mahonia</u></strong></span><span><strong> * </strong></span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>ie Oregon Grape – Research Summary by Heather</strong></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>Evergreen shrub/perennial </strong> (Latin: <em>Mahonia aquifolium & M. nervosa</em>)</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Parts Used</b>: Berries & Bark of Roots & underground stems</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Barberry Family. Two main species in our NW area: <em>Mahonia aquifolium</em> (taller & found in drier areas), and <em>Mahonia nervosa</em> (shorter/spreading and often in understory of NW forests of Douglas tree).</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>*Avoid use during pregnancy * Know your plant *</b> – don't mix up with ivy plant. .</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Edibility</b> – Ripe berries (blue colored) are edible raw or cooled. Sweet/sour/bitter taste & high in Vit C.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Most research on native use points to edible berries and less on use of roots as medicine. Local wild harvester & author Jennifer H. writes the young tender spring leaf sprouts can be eaten.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Harvesting</b>- Receive Permission. Giving Thanks, gather roots from midsummer to winter. Gather berries when ripe blue and before forest animals eat them....Thin from thick patches. Leave many berries for forest animals. Learn to identify plant even when its not flower and without berries. Dry & store berries. Dry or make tincture from underground bark of root.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Medicinal Uses</b>: Can be used as replacement for Golden seal, or mixed with Goldenseal in ratio of 1part Goldenseal & 4 parts Mahonia or Barberry.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Root, stem, leaf contain a yellow bitter alkaloid berberine, which has antimicrobial properties & aids in fighting infections, topically & internally.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Also stimulates bile production & helps with liver & digestive disorders.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Some history of bark & berries being used for eye problems, and Saanich native reports using berries in quantity for an antidote to shellfish poisoning.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Great CAUTION must be used, as this medicine is very potent.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Other bioactive agents (in addition to berberine) are berbamime, oxyacanthine, ocyberbenine, canadine, mahonine, magnoflorine, & jatrorrhizine.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p><strong>Preparations & Dosages</strong>: Dried fruit cakes, wine, jelly, tincture & decoction, dried root. Refer to your favorite herbalist for personal dosages. Refer to reference list below for medicine making handbook by James Green.</p>
<p><b>Other Uses</b>- Upper Skagit tribes used yellow in roots for dying cloth & baskets. Evergreen leaves can be used in bouquets and last long.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Range</b>: Grows from Pacific Ocean to timberline in Rocky Mts. (BC/Alberta to mountains of CA, CO, NM & in between)</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>Other Common Names-</strong> Berberis, Barbery, Odostemon, Yerba de Sangre, Creeping Barberry, Mountain Holly</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>References</b>:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">* “Plants of Pacific Northwest Coast” - Pojar & Mackinnon</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">* “Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West” - Michael Moore</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West' – Tilford</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Plant Technology of First Peoples in BC” - Turner</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook” -James Green</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">" " - Jennifer Hahn</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>Shared Leadership - "Seeing Nature - Deliberate Encounters with the Visible World"tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-01-21:2723460:BlogPost:117652011-01-21T03:48:13.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p>Reflections of visions & patterns within nature - to inspire us in creating a resiliant comunity landscape & culture. <br></br>I had just returned from being immersed for 3 weeks in the Olympic Parks ancient forests & shorelines observing the movements & patterns within nature. Now while back in our consumer-culture, I sense the movement & patterns within our community's emergent awakenings, and I am inspired to share words from Paul Krafel's observations of leadership…</p>
<p>Reflections of visions & patterns within nature - to inspire us in creating a resiliant comunity landscape & culture. <br/>I had just returned from being immersed for 3 weeks in the Olympic Parks ancient forests & shorelines observing the movements & patterns within nature. Now while back in our consumer-culture, I sense the movement & patterns within our community's emergent awakenings, and I am inspired to share words from Paul Krafel's observations of leadership within a flying flock of geese - H.K (9/25/09).</p>
<p> “Seeing Nature”, a book written by Paul after he spent 8 years immersed in the wilderness as National Park ranger. His words are a delight to read to savor & implement:<br/><br/>Quote from his book – “Seeing Nature:” :<br/>"We rounded a summit & came upon a spectacular ridge connecting two mountains...The wind blew bracing & chill, invigorating us as we walked along the sinuous gentle pathway two miles high...Patches of life extend downwind from the rocks like shadows. The wind shelter of each rock extends only so far...We heard a sound overhead & saw a V-shaped flock of geese approaching the ridge. The flock came on slowly because it was flying straight into the mountain wind. As the wedge of geese passed low overhead, I noticed that the leaders kept exchanging places several times each minute. The lead goose is like a ridge rock; it cleaves the wind & creates a wind-shelter behind it. Yet no single goose has the strength to lead indefinitely. By dropping back into the shelter of the flock, a goose could regather the strength needed to lead the flock again against the wind. Trading places allowed the flock to fly with greater strength...<br/>"I remember the wedge of geese flying against the mountain wind. The older members used their mature strength to cleave a passage for the younger members who followed. As the younger geese mature, they shall move forward to help cleave a passage for the next generation...We fly within the protection of all that has gone before...As I mature, a desire grows within me to press forward and feel the resisting wind against my face, to help cleave a passage for the impossibilities that can follow...<br/>...Once upon a time, sex, vision, flight & consciousness were impossible. Impossible in the sense that they had never occurred in the entire history of the Earth. But tiny changes kept accumulating & eventually each of them became possible. Life pushes against its edges...Each expansion creates opportunities for new expressions of life & each new life creates opportunities for further expansion. This spiral of change with all it has made possible & with all it will make possible is what I've come to call Gaia. This spiral created the soft, moist, green world & made possible my ability to be conscious of this miracle. I feel humble gratitude for the life preceding me & the life surrounding me" end quote<br/><br/>- yours in the spirit of community inspiring life's upward spirals of co-creation & gratitude, Heather K<br/><br/>(cross posted from discussion on Gaia Inspires)</p>Herbal Medicine-Making Resources: Websites-Equipment-Bookstag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2010-11-28:2723460:BlogPost:371582010-11-28T23:30:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nourishing ourselves through a living relationship with plants & fungi on the land we walk on is a lifelong journey.</span></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A</span> <span style="font-size: medium;">first step in deepening our herbal medicine making knowledge is to learn to safely & respectfully harvest for wild salads, soups, teas, salves &…</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nourishing ourselves through a living relationship with plants & fungi on the land we walk on is a lifelong journey.</span></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A</span> <span style="font-size: medium;">first step in deepening our herbal medicine making knowledge is to learn to safely & respectfully harvest for wild salads, soups, teas, salves & tinctures.</span></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">Harvest only what you can positively identify and leave an abundance to multiply.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Many of us our just beginning the walk, while others have been learning & healing many years. We all have wisdom to share together on this earth-walk. (By sharing our wisdom with each other, we continue our recovery from domination of the corporate-pharmaceutical world view)</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let me know if this resource list is helpful to you.</span> <span style="font-size: medium;">To receive follow up email on additions, click the 'follow' button<strong>.</strong></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Also see Local Discussion on</span></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>“Medicinal Plants/Fungi & Ethnobotany In our Gardens, Meadows, Forests & Homes” -</b></span> <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/medicinal-plantsfungi"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/medicinal-plantsfungi</span></span></a> <strong>(a good local online place to ask questions & share your wisdom)</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Share your favorite books & links, and I'll add more later.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">* Sections below you can scroll through:</span></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Books-Websites-Equipment/Supplies</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Books – New & Old:</b></span></span></p>
<dl>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook-A Home Manual</b> <span style="font-weight: normal;">– James Green.</span></span></dd>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>(T<em>his is the book Heather K referred to at our herbal tincture making workshop</em>)</strong></span></span></dd>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Medicinal Mushrooms</b> <span style="font-weight: normal;">– Christopher Hobbs, L.Ac.</span></span></dd>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>MycoMedicinals</strong> – Paul Stamets</span></dd>
</dl>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"> <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">The Herbalist's Way</span></strong> -The Art & Practice of Healing with Plant Medicines – Nancy & Michael Phillips</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">The Lost Language of Plants</span></strong> – the ecological importance of plant medicines to life on earth-</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">- Stephen Harrod Buhner</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Sacred Plant Medicine -The Wisdom in Native American Herbalism</b> – Stephen Harrod Buhner</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>Edible & Medicinal Plants of the West</strong> -Gregory L. Tilford</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West</strong> – Micheal Moore</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Healing Wise</b> – Susun S. Weed</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Childbearing Year</b> – Susun S. Weed</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Menopausal Years</b> – The Wise Woman Way (age 30-90) – Susun S. Weed</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Pacific Feast</b> – Jennifer Hahn</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Identifying & Harvesting Edible & Medicinal Plants</b> – 'Wildman' Steve Brill with Evelyn Dean</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Back to Eden-</b> Jethro Kloss (1939)</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>The Herb Book</b> – John Lust</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy</strong> - Valerie Ann Worwood</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>Prescription for Nutritional Healing</strong> - James F. Balch, M>D. & Phyllis A. Balch CNC</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>The Therapeutic Herb Manual</b> – Therapeutic Admin. Of Medicinal Herb compounds – Ed Smith</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Naturopathic Handbook of Herbal Formulas</b> – ISBN 1-882308-42-5</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Herbs for Children-</b> A Manual for Parents – Sunny Pendleton Mavor -Stone House Publishing</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>The Chinese Materia Medica</strong>: English & Chinese ISBN 7-81010-111-x or 787810 100010 (SUP Bookstore)</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Expanded List for herb Growing/Gardening/Permaculture books for EarthGardeners:</b></span> <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/books-treasured-useful">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topi</a><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/books-treasured-useful">cs/books-treasured-useful</a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><strong>The Way of Herbs</strong> - Michael Tierra (thanks Chris W!)</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Plant ID Books:</b></span> <span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>(- first learn to ID & hunt without harvesting)</b></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><strong>Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast</strong></b> <span style="font-weight: normal;">– Pojar & Mackinnon</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>Pacific Seaweeds</strong> – Louis Druehl</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>A Field guide to Edible Wild Plants</strong> (eastern/central n.america)-Lee Allen Peterson</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Flora of the Pacific Northwest –</b> <span style="font-weight: normal;">C.L. Hitchcock & A. Cronquist</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest</b> – Steve Trudell & Joe Ammirati</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><br/><br/></p>
<dl>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Website Links</span></span> – more to be added later:</b></dd>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><b>Online free e-books of Health & Soil Library of Steve Solomon-</b> <a href="http://www.soilandhealth.org/02/02healthlibwelcome.html"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://www.soilandhealth.org/02/02healthlibwelcome.html</span></a></dd>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><b>Medicinal Mushrooms –</b> <span style="font-weight: normal;">Christoper Hobbs <a href="http://www.christopherhobbs.com/website/library/articles/article_files/mushrooms_med_03.html">http://www.christopherhobbs.com/website/library/articles/article_files/mushrooms_med_03.html</a></span></dd>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><b>Herb Articles by Ryan Drum</b>: <a href="http://www.ryandrum.com/">http://www.ryandrum.com/</a></dd>
</dl>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><strong>Ethnobotanical & Phytochemical Databases- Dr. Duke's -</strong> <a href="http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/</span></span></a></p>
<dl>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><b>USDeptAg Plant Database:</b> <a href="http://plants.usda.gov/about_plants.html">http://plants.usda.gov/about_plants.html</a></dd>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><strong>Internet Directory for Botany -</strong> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.ou.edu/cas/botany-micro/idb-alpha/botany.html">http://www.ou.edu/cas/botany-micro/idb-alpha/botany.html</a></span></span></dd>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Scholarly Internet Resource Connecctions - InfoMine-</strong></span></span> <a href="http://infomine.ucr.edu/"></a><a href="http://infomine.ucr.edu/"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://infomine.ucr.edu/</span></span></a></dd>
</dl>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>Plants for a Future: A great plant-geek & permi website!</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><a href="http://www.pfaf.org/user/"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://www.pfaf.org/user/</span></a></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><b>Non-Profit Pharmaceutical Company-</b> Research on Plants effecting nerves & perceptions: <a href="http://www.maps.org/about/mission/">http://www.maps.org/about/mission/</a></p>
<dl>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Equipment & Supplies:</b></span></span></dd>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><b>Herbal Tincture Press for alcohol or oil:</b></dd>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><b>Below is the press recommended by author's of 'The Herbalist's Way':</b></dd>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Longevity Herb Company<br/><a href="http://business.gorge.net/longevity/">http://business.gorge.net/longevity/</a></span></dd>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><b>Seed Oil Extractor from Europe (Laura S is researching 12/2010)</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br/><a href="http://piteba.com/">http://piteba.com</a></span></dd>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><b>Other Links for hand-powered press for herbal medicine making:</b></dd>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><b>Horizon Herbs-</b> ½ gal press:<br/><a href="http://www.horizonherbs.com/pilot.asp?pg=tincture_press">http://www.horizonherbs.com/pilot.asp?pg=tincture_press</a><br/><br/><strong>Other Links to Plant Presses:</strong> <a href="http://herbs.lovetoknow.com/Herb_Tincture_Press">http://herbs.lovetoknow.com/Herb_Tincture_Press</a><br/><br/><b>Tincture press</b> – less expensive<br/><a href="http://www.herbtincturepress.com/">http://www.herbtincturepress.com/</a><br/><br/><b>Rich Gulch – tincture press</b><br/><a href="http://www.mathrespresses.com/HerbalTincturePress.htm">http://www.mathrespresses.com/HerbalTincturePress.htm</a><br/><br/><br/></dd>
</dl>Inspirations: Poetry & Quotations to Exploretag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2010-11-04:2723460:BlogPost:110312010-11-04T03:30:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p>"Thomas Jefferson said he didn’t think we could have democracy unless at<br></br>least 20% of the population was self-supporting on small farms so they were<br></br>independent enough to be able to tell an oppressive government to 'stuff it'.<br></br>It is very difficult to control people who can create products without<br></br>purchasing inputs from the system, who can market their products directly<br></br>thus avoiding the involvement of mercenary middlemen, who can butcher<br></br>animals and preserve foods…</p>
<p>"Thomas Jefferson said he didn’t think we could have democracy unless at<br/>least 20% of the population was self-supporting on small farms so they were<br/>independent enough to be able to tell an oppressive government to 'stuff it'.<br/>It is very difficult to control people who can create products without<br/>purchasing inputs from the system, who can market their products directly<br/>thus avoiding the involvement of mercenary middlemen, who can butcher<br/>animals and preserve foods without reliance on industrial conglomerates, and<br/>who can’t be bullied because they can feed their own faces."<br/>- Eliot Coleman, Author, Farmer, Human Being</p>
<p><em>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</em></p>
<p>"The greatest challenges for humanity are not hunger, poverty, peace, public health, education, the economy, natural resources, nor a combination of these or other issues ... but our capacity to build new social organizations capable of providing the solutions. Our greatest challenge is collective intelligence." </p>
<p> -F Noubel</p>
<p>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</p>
<p>"I am done with great things and big plans, great institutions and big success.</p>
<p>I am for those tiny, invidible loving human forces taht work from individual to individual, creeping through the crannies of the worls like so many rootlets..." - William James</p>
<p><em>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</em></p>
<p><em>" I see the beauty everywhere I turn - breathing deep in fresh winter's air --- hearing bird wings flutter with songs as I rise in the morning to walk through the garden.</em></p>
<p><em>May fertile soil & winter dreams awaken & nourish living creations" - Earthwalker Dancing</em></p>
<p><em><strong>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</strong><br/>"Everything changes. It has always been so. Our lives pass swiftly away. To be human is to swim in a sea of intertwined beauty and loss.</em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>Yet the losses we now contemplate are of a different order of magnitude, beyond the imagining of any former generation of human beings. In the daily scramble of love and work, it is easy to miss the scale of what we face. It is easy to confuse our climate crisis with a litany of lesser ills we'd simply rather ignore.</em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>Yet it is not the human way to surrender what is most precious to us without rallying the full measure of our courage and fortitude to the cause of survival. This is the moment of truth into which all previous generations have delivered us,, with the fate of all future generations now resting in our hands. Imagine! We have entered a perfect storm of our own making. The living earth on which we sail, the cradle of all homelands and all possible homecomings, is in grave danger of sinking. Every hand is needed on deck. What greater adventure could anyone ask for?"</em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>- Kurt Hoelting “The Circumference of Home” one man's yearlong quest for a radically local life</em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em> </em></p>
<p><em><strong>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *** * ** *** * ** * ** * * *</strong></em></p>
<p><em><b>The Peace of Wild Things</b><br/>"When despair for the world grows in me<br/>and I wake in the night at the least sound<br/>in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,<br/>I go and lie down where the wood drake<br/>rests in his beauty on the water,<br/>and the great heron feeds,<br/>I come into the peace of wild things<br/>who do not tax their lives with forethought<br/>of grief. I come into the presence of still water.<br/>And I feel above me the day-blind stars<br/>waiting with their light. For a time<br/>I rest in the grace of the world, and am free." -Wendell Berry</em></p>
<p><em><strong>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</strong></em></p>
<p><em> "Would that we could be bound by our intent and not our words."</em></p>
<p><em><strong>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</strong><br/>"... when we finally know we are dying,<br/>and all other sentient beings are dying with us,<br/>we start to have a burning, almost heartbreaking sense<br/>of the fragility and preciousness of each moment and each being,<br/>and from this can grow a deep, clear,<br/>limitless compassion for all beings." - Sogyal Rinpoche</em></p>
<p><em><strong>* * * * * * * * * * * *</strong></em></p>
<em> “ The natural world contains many interesting examples that may have some analogies in human activity.......When a large enough number of bees agree about a site, they end up selecting the best one. There is an analogous situation with humans. People in groups, provided with the necessary information, tend to make better decisions than individuals making decisions for the group. A diversity of people (backgrounds, skills, outlooks) allows a group to evaluate issues better. Because they are, as a group, involved in the decision-making process, they feel more ownership of the decision and a desire to help implement it....” - Professor Fred Megdoff (plant & soil scientist) from<br/></em>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>“Ecological Civilization” . Google doc at- 'monthlyreview.org/110101magdoff.php</em></p>
<p><em><strong>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</strong><br/><br/>" Every breath you take is sacred...Within the Sacred Circle, we can experience the circle of giving and receiving, the circle of in-breathing and of out-breathing, in which all things come to life through the power of the Great Spirit, Wakan Tanka, the Source of Being, the Mystery......<br/><br/>"We are here to care for the earth.... Each of us here in this multitude is a single leaf on the Great Spirit's tree. When we go within ourselves to touch the river of life that runs at the heart of our innermost being, each one of us touches the same life that flows within our sisters & brothers, even as the same sap flows through all the leaves of a tree...<br/><br/>"...Our life is lit from the same fire that burns in the heart of the Beloved....<br/>Each individual being is a flame created from the eternal fire of Infinite Love."<br/><br/>- paraphrased from 'Return of the Bird Tribes" - Ken Carey</em></p>
<p><em><strong>* * * * * * * * * * * *</strong></em></p>
<p><em>"Be grateful for whoever comes,<br/>because each has been sent<br/>as a guide from beyond." ~Rumi</em></p>
<p><em><strong><strong>* * * * * * * * * * * *</strong> * * * * * * * * * * *</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>As time flows on - I'll add more quotes & poetry</strong></p>
<p><strong>Click "Follow" to receive any additions added to blog comment section</strong></p>
<p><strong><strong>* * * * * * * * * * * * <strong>* * * * * * * * * * * *</strong></strong></strong></p>
<p>"Our Awareness Increases with Quiet Time Being Within Gaia’s Garden…<br/>Our Relationships with the Earth & Our Maker Can Become Streams of Living<br/>Water, Overflowing with Abundance & Gratitude For The Simplest Blessings. "<br/>( HK )</p>
<p><strong><strong>* * * * * * * * * * * * <strong>* * * * * * * * * * * *</strong></strong></strong></p>
<p><br/>ON THE EARTH WITHIN SPIRITS EMBRACE<br/><br/>"On The Earth my back lies down - Slowly<br/>. . .with eyes straight up ahead<br/>. . . ..seeing up deep through tree's glory<br/>. . . . .to stars of wonder...stars of delight...<br/><br/>Body breathes in<br/>. .soul fills with awe - fills with wonder<br/>. . . - soul filling up with gratitude...<br/>Body breathe out<br/>. .soul releasing grief - guilt - fear -<br/>. . .beyond worlds of pain...<br/>Body breathes in deeper - fuller – life's Presence<br/>. . ...as my heart – relaxes --<br/>. . . .into Loves Embrace<br/>. . . . .held by Earth-Garden-Spirit-Holy-<br/><br/>In This Moment<br/>. . . I am blessed with life...<br/>In This Moment<br/>. . . I am ready to release<br/>. . . . my earth-waterly-flesh -<br/>. . . . . to return to Source - return to Mystery<br/>. . . . . . .....that Birthed All. . .<br/><br/>I Soul Remember<br/>. . . Earth's Eternal Spirit Life Is Now<br/>. . . . Within Spirit's Embrace.... "<br/><br/>. . . . . - Earthwalker Dancing</p>
<p><br/>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *<br/><br/><strong><u>More Favorite Quotes:</u></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>"Thank you for letting me know how you heard my comment. I would, however, like to be heard differently"- D.ML. as learned from Alan Seid.<br/>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</p>
<p><strong>* * * * * * * * * * * *</strong></p>
<p><br/>"Love is the religion in me<br/>Let the beauty we love, be what we do" -Rumi</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>* * * * * * * * * * * *</strong></p>
<p> “We cannot doubt that we have been given the intellectual vision, the spiritual insight, and even the physical resource we need for carrying out the transition that is demanded of these times, transition from the period when humans were a disruptive force on the planet Earth to the period when humans became present to the planet in a manner that is mutually enhancing”” - Thomas Berry</p>
<p> </p>
<p>* * <strong>Quotes to Share Later</strong> * * * *</p>
<br/>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <font color="#000000"><font size="2"><strong><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;">"Permaculture: Consciously designed landscapes which mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fiber and energy for provision of local needs. People, their buildings and the ways they organize themselves are central to permaculture. Thus the permaculture vision of permanent (sustainable) agriculture has evolved to one of permanent (sustainable) culture." - David Holmgren” Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability”</span></font></strong></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font size="2"><strong><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></font></strong></font></font></p>
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<p style="margin-right: 0.39in;"><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">"</span></span></span></font></font></font></strong><em><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty</span></span></span></font></font></font></em><strong><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">."</span></span></span></font></font></font></strong><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">-- (unknown author)</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">"I think democracy is a very very radical idea. It's not accepted by Communists. Stalin didn't accept it. I don't think capitalists like it because it takes power from them and gives it to people who haven't got money. And that is a very dangerous idea indeed</span></span></font></font></em><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">."</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">- and -</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">"I think democracy is the most revolutionary thing in the world. Far more revolutionary than socialist ideas, or anybody else's ideas. If you have power, you use it to meet the needs of you & your community</span></span></font></font></em><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">."</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2">-> both quotes by Tony Benn, retired Member of Parliament, UK</font></font></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> </p>Garden-Servant Update: fertility, nourishment, & water in temperate climate mid-springtag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2010-05-18:2723460:BlogPost:220812010-05-18T20:30:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There comes a time in mid spring in the edible forest garden, when the impulse to reproduce is strong among plants, insects, & animals. I often witness this in May, just before the main roses & peonies bloom, and just as many of the fruiting trees & shrubs have gone from blossoms, to tiny fruits (smaller than peas). During this time I sense a high need for water & nourishment from many plants all at the same time.…</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There comes a time in mid spring in the edible forest garden, when the impulse to reproduce is strong among plants, insects, & animals. I often witness this in May, just before the main roses & peonies bloom, and just as many of the fruiting trees & shrubs have gone from blossoms, to tiny fruits (smaller than peas). During this time I sense a high need for water & nourishment from many plants all at the same time.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There is a balance in co-creating with a garden, between using your human energy to provide water & nourishment needs, and letting the garden's resilience strengthen through reaching its roots deeper for the water and nourishment. I sometimes miss that ideal balance, and the plants can show signs of stress and needing my attention if they are to survive & thrive.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">This spring I'm again at that point, where my impulse to be in service to the garden is in high gear. (ie garden-servant). I'm driven to provide water to my fruiting plants by carting out all the hoses & watering cans and not trusting that it will rain in just a few more days. I get up extra early in the mornings half awake to spray compost tea to the plant leaf's stomas to provide an extra boost of nourishment, since our temperate soils are often still too cold to release nutrients. I'm often behind on planting all my summer edible crops and behind 'harvesting' the wild guardian plants for the compost pile before they set seed (ie. what some folks perceive as weeding).</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Maintaining a peaceful walk may be a challenge, during this high demand time to plant, water, harvest, nourish, prune, deadhead, answer client questions & coach new gardeners, host & attend garden tours/classes/work-parties, and its a challenge I'm graced to experience. As my walk on the earth lengthens, I'm more drawn to watch the bees, listen to the birds, and Be-Still in each moment, frequently enough to witness the miraculous visual, auditory, & olfactory natural symphony of beauty & wonder that is unfolding right before me almost hour by hour.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I also notice a fertile population explosion of insects (ie aphids, ladybugs, worms, slugs, etc) and of disease & virus. Those fertility cycles sometimes give me a scare...but my walk has been to chose to put my energies into increasing biodiversity and soil/plant nourishment rather than putting my energies towards fighting & destroying another life form. Yes it does make sense to study & observe these life forms, and I occasionally will find a way to move these critters away from my pampered plants, to another wilder location. It is important for each of us to enjoy the wild areas within our gardens & yards, that are a places of refuge containing a diversity of life forms: plant & animal eating, insect eating, scavengers, and predators.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">May we remember that humans are within the cycle of nature. We have the choice to destroy or change what has been created (the power of the blade), or the choice to co-create & nourish life (the power of the chalice).</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I embrace the Beloved Mystery - of Spirit - of Life - of Creation...</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We may have been created from stardust and to stardust the body may return.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">* * * * * *</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>The author, Heather works as an ecologist, consultant, & educator for a business that does ecological design & restorations for home sanctuaries & larger landscape-planning.</em></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>“Co-Creating With Nature's Wisdom: - 'Organic – Sacred – Intuitive' “ . She is certified as a permaculture designer, a graduate of Warren Wilson College, and has worked within the fields of education, horticulture, medical/therapy, and cares for numerous edible-forest-gardens in both temperate & tropical locations.</em></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>She is in recovery from 'western civilization', and frequently escapes the online & industrialized world,</em> <em>walking barefooted within wildlands & garden sanctuaries</em></p>Social Networks and Effecting Transition Movement Actiontag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2010-05-06:2723460:BlogPost:215292010-05-06T21:00:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p><font size="2"><font size="2">* * *</font> <font size="2">Many of us are interested in accurate information on the ning-com-corporation and their ethical & privacy policies. Please share if you have found something helpful.</font> <font size="2">* * *.</font></font></p>
<br></br>
<p> </p>
<p><font size="2">quote: "There is a lot of Transition Movement action going on in social networks all over the world.</font> <font size="2">This is great; keep it up (as long as it's not detracting from…</font></p>
<p><font size="2"><font size="2">* * *</font> <font size="2">Many of us are interested in accurate information on the ning-com-corporation and their ethical & privacy policies. Please share if you have found something helpful.</font> <font size="2">* * *.</font></font></p>
<br/>
<p> </p>
<p><font size="2">quote: "There is a lot of Transition Movement action going on in social networks all over the world.</font> <font size="2">This is great; keep it up (as long as it's not detracting from your 'physical world')"- by Ed Mitchell.</font></p>
<p> </p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman"><strong>"Social Networks and how they fit into the web strategy" thoughts by Ed Mitchell</strong></font></p>
<p><a href="http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/ed-mitchell/2010-02/social-networks-and-how-they-fit-web-strategy"><font face="Times New Roman">http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/ed-mitchell/2010-02/social-networks-and-how-they-fit-web-strategy</font></a></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">Ed Mitchell is the current 'Web Co-ordinator' for TransitionNetwork.Org. "This means that he is the person who co-ordinates the web activities for the Network, as well as advise Transitioners and Initiatives on the best use of the web for their needs. He lives in Bristol, likes digging and climbing, growing vegetables and reading, bicycles and books, swimming, camping and generally being outdoors."</font></p>
<p> </p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">Quote: "There is a lot of Transition Movement action going on in social networks all over the world. This is great; keep it up (as long as it's not detracting from your 'physical world')......</font></p>
<p> </p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">.....Our priorities start at the centre of the diagram below (diagram on webpage)- with information that the 'Transition Network' think is the most important - about Transition initiatives, projects and people, events and news. It's 'Knowledge Management' rather than 'Social Networking'; we will start with this information, and build related 'sociality' patterns into this as we go (e.g. proximity searches, contact points etc.) in line with users' requests, patterns of use and other facilitation work.</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">But it won't be 'Social Networking' a la Facebook or Ning. This is expensive to build and maintain,in a highly competitive and fast-moving technical world, and the information and interactions therein, although very valuable to individuals using the services, isn't utterly critical to the movement in the same way that being able to accurately and reliably find initiatives is.</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">As well as this, we have no influence over the direction of a 'free' social network service, nor guarantee it will be around forever, nor guarantee how the data will be used.</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">This is not saying that these Social Networks have no value - it's just that we (the Network) need to focus on our core priorities....</font></p>
<p> </p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">......You may note that the Social networks are outside the circles. (diagram on website page)... This is because we do not expect to manage all the information and interactions in these areas; we are keen to participate in them, but as a 'collaborator', not a 'manager'.</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">Likewise, we can't and don't want to own the data and interactions therein - that is the responsibility of the movement. We're busy thinking about how to make sure the projects information is optimised and owned by the movement in the best way, and don't see a social network that can do that for us....." endquote Complete article written Feb 18th & comments: <a href="http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/ed-mitchell/2010-02/social-networks-and-how-they-fit-web-strategy">http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/ed-mitchell/2010-02/social-networks-and-how-they-fit-web-strategy</a></font></p>
<p> </p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman"><b>Also view Les Squires message from today May 6th:</b></font></p>
<p> </p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman"><b>Open Message to Transitioners Re: Ning New Pricing Policies</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman"><b><a href="http://transitionus.ning.com/forum/topics/open-message-to-transitioners?xg_source=activity">http://transitionus.ning.com/forum/topics/open-message-to-transitioners?xg_source=activity</a></b></font></p>
<p> </p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman"><b>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</b></font></p>
<p> </p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman"><b>Also, view WiseEarth.Org</b> webpage <em><a href="http://www.wiserearth.org/">http://www.wiserearth.org/</a></em></font></p>
<p> </p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">They have many groups listed, including Transition-Us group: <a href="http://www.wiserearth.org/group/transitionus">http://www.wiserearth.org/group/transitionus</a></font></p>
<p> </p>"Is a Truly Sustainable Society Achievable As Long As Corporate 'Rights' Trump the Rights of People" . . . . . . . . . Paul Cienfuegos - Audio-Recorded Live Talk" 2/26/10tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2010-03-30:2723460:BlogPost:170632010-03-30T05:30:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p>Quote- "This is Paul Cienfuegos' talk on the ascendancy of corporate rights over the rights of of people as citizens, and how this trend can be reversed. The assertion of corporate over citizen rights came into sharp focus this January with the Supreme Court's "Citizens United" decision which opens the floodgates of unrestricted corporate money into election campaigns, under the guise of free speech. Countering this trend are citizen revolts, many in small communities, which assert the right…</p>
<p>Quote- "This is Paul Cienfuegos' talk on the ascendancy of corporate rights over the rights of of people as citizens, and how this trend can be reversed. The assertion of corporate over citizen rights came into sharp focus this January with the Supreme Court's "Citizens United" decision which opens the floodgates of unrestricted corporate money into election campaigns, under the guise of free speech. Countering this trend are citizen revolts, many in small communities, which assert the right of the people who live in a community to decide what happens to that community and to its natural environment. Abroad, this movement worked with the government of Ecuador to include in its constitution the inherent rights of nature, its ecosystems, and its genetic heritage." endquote ... <a href="http://kboo.fm/node/20386">http://kboo.fm/node/20386</a></p>
<p><em>Paul occasionally comes to give workshops in the Skagit & Whatcom county area, sponsored by Peace & Justice Centers in the past. There are local democracy study & work groups.</em></p>
<p><em>His website is at:</em> <a href="http://paulcienfuegos.com/">http://paulcienfuegos.com/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Paul's talk was sponsored by: Alliance for Democracy, City Repair, Economic Justice Action Group, First Unitarian Church of Portland, Real Wealth of Portland, Transition PDX, and Womens International League for Peace and Freedom.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">Also listen to many Transition Town ideas in this talk by Riki Ott and David Cobb about a new model of economy- <strong>‘Organizing Community to Abolish Corporate Personhood</strong> “ at this link-</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><a href="http://transitionus.ning.com/video/organizing-community-to"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://transitionus.ning.com/video/organizing-community-to</span></font></font></a></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode">*</font>Community Environmental Defense Fund- This is the organization that assisted residence in rural Pennsylvania & in Pittsburgh, to protect their land & natural resources from damaging corporate actions.</font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"> Tom Linzey is the executive director & an activist & attorney. Video- <a href="http://www.celdf.org/section.php?id=35">http://www.celdf.org/section.php?id=35</a></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"> </p>Fertile Soil & Seeding Winter Dreamstag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-12-23:2723460:BlogPost:119242009-12-23T10:00:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
Earthdreams awakening fertile fragrant nourishing living creations....I give thanks to the earth-creation and to farmers & growers who move within the earth's life cycles, and understand the limits of earth-gaia's gifts. I give thanks for farmer's growing passions envisioning the fertile dreams of tomorrow's nourishment!<br></br><br></br>It's December 21st,2009, and I've just put in my first phone call for seeds, to Bountiful Gardens/Ecology Action, and they don't even have their 2010 catalogue…
Earthdreams awakening fertile fragrant nourishing living creations....I give thanks to the earth-creation and to farmers & growers who move within the earth's life cycles, and understand the limits of earth-gaia's gifts. I give thanks for farmer's growing passions envisioning the fertile dreams of tomorrow's nourishment!<br/><br/>It's December 21st,2009, and I've just put in my first phone call for seeds, to Bountiful Gardens/Ecology Action, and they don't even have their 2010 catalogue out yet...but they took my order! (707) 459-6410 <i><a href="http://www.bountifulgardens.org">www.bountifulgardens.org</a>. (more seed resources below</i>). I also longed to touch the earth again, so on the solstice I went outside and finally planted all the bulbs & garlic I was behind on getting in the ground...thank goodness the ground was still not frozen.<br/><br/>Then I walked through my dream greenhouse...Oh, I do love being in a greenhouse...'My Greenhouse', yes it still exists....still exists in my mind from past careers....still exists in my mind with its invisible footprint resting on the heartsong land I care for. It is marked out with various stones & stakes after using a 'Solar Pathfinder' to find all the variety of sun-arches within a small garden clearing surrounded by tall firs, cedars, & elder fruit trees.<br/><br/>I continue to ponder how to rise up this dream given limited resources, and the limits of the land that also need a footprint for future dreams of graywater catchment & filtration, and a footprint for a 'fertile-composting-humanure-shelter'. Its a hard choice, between a 'sun-room-greenhouse' growing plants & food & warming my winter body, versus a responsible cutting-edge design for a micro-shelter that will capture & compost our humanure 'recycled-gifts' to be returned to the earth.<br/><br/>Yep, as northern gardeners & plant addicts we sense the earth's pole tilting back towards the sun's warming light, even as the months grow colder; and as our addictions, no, our passions continue to breath deep in the visions of roots & seeds resting in earth-dreams awakening fertile fragrant nourishing living creations. Even while our body huddles close to fire immersing in books & seed catalogues, and making winter soups from squash, winter greens & fresh sprouts, we can still work in the garden. There is always compost to add to the garden beds, and collecting weeds for future compost, or turning the compost piles (-I prefer the ease of time & soil creatures turn mine) .<br/><br/>It is helpful to have an old bale of straw setting in the garden to use to protect bare soil and to protect any tender herbs needing insulation. January's also a fine time to create cold frames or hoop houses that can warm the soil early to prepare for planting of February's early crops. Remember the importance of Not cultivating the soil when its wet, which can physically damage the soil's tilth – a chemically complex web of air/nutrients/water and web of soil life (fungi/bacteria/microbes/animals). (<i>Recommended soil books below</i>).<br/><br/><b>I see the beauty everywhere I turn breathing deep in fresh winter's air and hearing the flutter of bird wings & songs as I rise in the morning to walk through the garden. . . . . .</b><br/><br/>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *<br/><br/><b>““We cannot doubt that we have been given the intellectual vision, the spiritual insight, and even the physical resource we need for carrying out the transition that is demanded of these times, transition from the period when humans were a disruptive force on the planet Earth to the period when humans became present to the planet in a manner that is mutually enhancing.”” - Thomas Berry</b><br/><br/>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *<br/><br/>Books on poop, or<br/><b>Human Waste-Nutrients Recycling Recommended Books</b>:<br/><br/><u>The Humanure Handbook</u> – Joseph Jenkins<br/><u>Future Fertility – Transforming Human Waste Into Human Wealth</u> - John Beeby.<br/><br/><b>Soil Book Recommendations</b>:<br/><br/>“<u>The Soul of Soil – A Guide to Ecological Soil Management</u>”- Grace Gershuny & Joseph Smillie<br/>“<u>How To Grow More Vegetables</u>” -John Jeavons ( A primer on the life-giving 'Grow BioIntensive method of sustainable horticulture) – <i>chapters 2-4 on Sustainability, Compost, Fertilization.</i><br/>“<u>Soil Biology Primer</u>” ( pamphlet summery)<br/>“<u>Life in the Soil – A Guide for Naturalists & Gardeners</u>” - James B. Nardi<br/>“<u>Teaming with Microbes</u> – A Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web” - Jeff Lowenfels & Wayne Lewis<br/>“<u>Secrets of the Soil</u>” - Peter Tomkins & Christopher Bird<br/>“<u>Gardening at the Dragon's Gate – At Work in the Wild & Cultivated World</u>” - Wendy Johnson (memoir of philosophy with dirt under the nails)<br/><br/><b>For more Seed Source Lists</b> go to TWI discussion “Seed Sources/Farms for Open-Pollinated Varieties & Seed-Savers Preserving Biodiversity”<br/><i><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/seedsavers/forum/topics/seed-sourcesfarms-for">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/seedsavers/forum/topics/seed-sourcesfarms-for</a></i><br/><br/>and also “Books & Videos & Websites - Seed-Saving”<br/><i><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/seedsavers/forum/topics/books-videos-websites">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/seedsavers/forum/topics/books-videos-websites</a></i>Bicycle Power with Pedal-Assisted Electric Motors for Long-Distance Commutestag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-11-25:2723460:BlogPost:101432009-11-25T00:00:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p>Bicycles are one of the most efficient human powered machines.<br></br>Riding a bike can be a joy!<br></br>However, not everyone in our community is able-bodied enough to ride up our hills or go the long commuting distances from rural home to the urban market on our hilly roads or in our often dark, cold & wet climate.<br></br>The new bicycle technology that combines the efficiency of the human powered bicycle with the technology of a power-assisted electric motor & a rechargeable battery…</p>
<p>Bicycles are one of the most efficient human powered machines.<br/>Riding a bike can be a joy!<br/>However, not everyone in our community is able-bodied enough to ride up our hills or go the long commuting distances from rural home to the urban market on our hilly roads or in our often dark, cold & wet climate.<br/>The new bicycle technology that combines the efficiency of the human powered bicycle with the technology of a power-assisted electric motor & a rechargeable battery extends the population that can bicycle for errands or commuting.<br/><br/>We are researching to find a quality electric-assisted bicycle that would be useful to for long distance commutes & for running errands, while getting exercise but not exhausting ourselves with hills & distances. We want to choose something that is first a quality bicycle, and second has a state-of-the-art motor & battery that can allow us to go over 30 miles without a charge.<br/><br/>I know there are many models that can be useful for getting around town if you live & shop & work in the urban zone, but I have so far only found one brand that would be useful for longer distances, steep hills, and be able to put on the buses.<br/><br/>My favorite pedal-assist bicycle so far is called the Ohm brand.<br/>I've test ridden the Sport 700 this spring and found it extremely responsive, especially going up hills!<br/>The controller can 'sense' the amount of effort I put on the pedals in relation to the gear I'm in.<br/>"Ohm uses BionX drive technology with Molicel Rechargeable Li-ions cells and are truly bicycles with multiple gear cogs. The bikes produce zero emissions during operation. Each Power pack consumes about one kilowatt-hour of energy while recharging" - <a href="http://ohmcycles.com/our-bikes/">http://ohmcycles.com/our-bikes/</a><br/>These bicycles also use hydraulic disk brakes.<br/>Electric assisted bicycles in Europe are often called "PedElecs"<br/><br/>One of our friends commutes on his Ohm bike from Whitbey Island to his office in Seattle.<br/>He & his wife plan to market these bicycles on their website at <a href="http://www.seattleelectricbike.NET">www.seattleelectricbike.NET</a> .<br/>Here is their email- <a href="mailto:info@seattleelectricbike.net">info@seattleelectricbike.net</a></p>
<p>(Ask me if you need their phone number or want to be contacted to schedule a test ride next time they are in Whatcom County).<br/><br/>This spring I called many bicycle shops and was told they did not sell any power-assisted bicycles.<br/>But now at least one local bike shops offers an electric bicycle. The model I saw there was a Torker brand, but I was unimpressed with its 3 gear hub or its battery.<br/>REI has a brand they are selling, but when I last checked they did not have a model to see in B'ham.<br/>Also, the online picture looks similar to some of the other asian made bicycles that do Not fit onto buses because of their extended wheel base (due to the battery being designed to be between the rear bike tube & rear wheel).<br/><br/>We will most likely go with obtaining an Ohm cycle brand unless we find something better, that is not more expensive.<br/>(And our friends have the Sport 700 on sale through December 09, before the newer models come out).<br/>It is also possible to add an Ohm motor with battery & controller to a bicycle you currently use....but that is not something I can recommend, as I prefer the safety & durability of the hydraulic disc brakes that come with the complete Ohm bicycle.<br/><br/>One of my previous concerns, even though I used to work as a bicycle mechanic, was finding a local bike shop that would do repairs on an electric bicycle. I have now found a bicycle mechanic that is willing to work on an electric assisted bicycle that has hydraulic disc brakes.<br/><br/>Bicycles can be built to last a lifetime with occasional part replacements. (My favorite bike is still my 1980's Univega touring bicycle). One of my concerns environmentally with the electric assisted bicycles is asking what the true environmental & social cost to build them is, how long do the batteries last, and how can they be safely recycled for another use when they no longer function.<br/><br/>That is also 'the question' I like to ask with anything I'm thinking of bringing home.</p>Cover Crops-Green Manures & Soil Restorationtag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-10-11:2723460:BlogPost:88182009-10-11T09:30:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p><b>With Pleasure I Walk</b> through our small garden, tossing cover crops seeds under the still standing fall plants, knowing the seeds when sprouted will protect the soil from erosion, increase soil tilth, increase bio-mass, and result in some food for both the birds & our family.<br></br><b>My Favorite Autumn Cover Crops for Sowing are Crimson Clover, Fava Beans, & Tyfon Greens.</b><br></br><br></br>I often spread a thin layer of straw (not seedy hay), onto any bare soil. Be careful not to…</p>
<p><b>With Pleasure I Walk</b> through our small garden, tossing cover crops seeds under the still standing fall plants, knowing the seeds when sprouted will protect the soil from erosion, increase soil tilth, increase bio-mass, and result in some food for both the birds & our family.<br/><b>My Favorite Autumn Cover Crops for Sowing are Crimson Clover, Fava Beans, & Tyfon Greens.</b><br/><br/>I often spread a thin layer of straw (not seedy hay), onto any bare soil. Be careful not to bring in hay that can contain seeds from thistles & grasses that can sprout where you don't want them....as even straw can have a few unwanted seeds! I have friends who use the straw to protect & overwinter their tender plants too.<br/><br/><b>Nature's system protects the soil</b> & does not leave it bare to the rains...either weeds sprout to protect bare soil, or in the forest & meadow, there is always something either growing above the soil, or mulch laying on top protecting from the rains effects of compaction & erosion..<br/><br/><b>Crimson Clover</b> ( Tryifolium incarnatum)- its easy to turn under when its young & tender in the spring, or you can allow it to mature to its bright crimson flowers for the beauty & bio-mass, but that can use up precious food-growing space in a small garden. Sometimes our local farmer coop on Meridian carries the seed, if they don't be sure to request they carry more for fall sowing. I also order the seed from Territorial, along with the other seeds I've mentioned.<br/><br/><b>Fava Beans</b> (vicia faba) – choose winter hardy types if you sow before February....Along with the smaller seeded cover crop fava's, I also plant a large seeded more edible variety along a fence that grows into tasty fat inner green bean-seeds in spring for steaming or stir fry...yummy! Remember to resist harvesting the earliest edible beans, and mark them for your seed-saving stash.<br/><br/><b>Tyfon Greens</b> (Brassica napa x) – Edible green leaves when they first spout, and later developing a tough turnip like edible root...These plants are survivors in my garden from winter through hot summers....Some get turned under, some pulled for the compost, and some I leave on the path edges as a mini living fence boundary.<br/><br/><b>My favorite summer cover crop is buckwheat</b> (Cavopyrum esculentumn) – Sometimes I will actually sow it in late summer, and even though it dies back in the winter, it covers & protects the soil. In the spring, when its pulled off the soil, there's a great look seeding bed ready from spring crops. The local farmers coop usually has a good supply of this grain cover crop.</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>Spring & Summer planting May 2011 update:</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">More cover crops to consider for enhancing your soil tilth & increasing pollinator nourishment for spring & early summer planting, are:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">seeds from the grain family- Oats, Wheat, Rye, Triticale;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">seeds from the nitrogen-fixing legume family- Field Peas, Edible Peas, Vetch, Medic mix ( Medicago sp & Trifolium sp); and</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Insectory seeds like Sunflower, Bee's Friend (Phacelia, tanacetifolia), and other annual heirloom seed that brings nutrients up from deep in the soil or creates a large amount of bio-mass. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Also consider perennial plants that you can harvest each year without replanting or cultivating (ie. your scythed lawn of grass/broad-leaf-plants letting it grow tall before scything).</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Please add your favorite crops that I've not mentioned.</p>
<p><br/><b>Resource Books for more info</b>:<br/><i>"The Soul of Soil – A Guide to Ecological Soil management “</i> - Grace Gershuny & Joseph Smillie<br/><i>"Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades"</i> – Steve Solomon<br/><i>"Food Not Lawns – How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden & Your Neighborhood into a Community”</i> - H.C.Flores<br/><i>"New Organic Grower - A Masters Manual of Tools & Techniques for the Home & Market Gardener"</i> - Eliot Coleman</p>
<p>'<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><em>Cover Crop Gardening-Soil Enrichment with Green Manures'</em> – Garden Way Booklet A-5 ISBN 0-88266-179 5</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><em>'Grow Your Compost Materials at Home'</em> – John Jeavons – Ecology Action Mini-Series #10</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><em>'Green Manuring- Principles & Practice'</em> – Otto Schmid & Ruedi Klay – Woods End Agricltureal Instititue pub.#2</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><em>'Green Manures – A Mini-Manual'</em> – Johney's Selected Seeds Research Department</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <font color="#555555"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">* Online Library of out-of print books on Soil & Health compiled by Steve Solomon</span></font></font></font> <a href="http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/01aglibwelcome.html"><font color="#0066CC"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><u><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/01aglibwelcome.html</span></u></font></font></font></a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-weight: normal;">* Online Resources, Videos, Libraries for Permaculturists/Edible Forest Gardeners</span></font></font> <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/online-resources-videos"><font color="#0066CC"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="2"><u><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/online-resources-videos</span></u></font></font></font></a></p>
<p>* * * * * *<br/><b>Garden Caretakers Location: Cascadia Bioregion</b> within the NE Pacific Ocean Ring of Fire –<br/>Salish Sea watershed (far downstream & west of Mt. Baker)<br/>Climate: Pacific Maritime Elevation: 300' Latitude: 48-49 degrees<br/>Biogeographical Province: Nearctic-realm: Sierra-Cascade – Temperate Needle-leaf Forest</p>Salmon Peoples & Salish Sea Watershed - Open Space & Stewardship Campaigntag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2009-09-28:2723460:BlogPost:78562009-09-28T23:30:00.000ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
I am interested in working to bring Peter Donaldson's Citizens Stewardship Campaign & his community building performance called 'Salmonpeoples', to our area during the coming year.<br></br>Our local Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association may also be interested in this.<br></br><br></br>This event could be supported by multiple groups & part of our evolving earth-people-in-transition work.<br></br><br></br>Info on the three-year partnership stewardship campaign is at…
I am interested in working to bring Peter Donaldson's Citizens Stewardship Campaign & his community building performance called 'Salmonpeoples', to our area during the coming year.<br/>Our local Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association may also be interested in this.<br/><br/>This event could be supported by multiple groups & part of our evolving earth-people-in-transition work.<br/><br/>Info on the three-year partnership stewardship campaign is at <i><a href="http://www.peterdonaldson.net/Salmonpeople/Campaign/overview.html">http://www.peterdonaldson.net/Salmonpeople/Campaign/overview.html</a></i><br/><br/>Info on his Salmonpeoples performance at : <i><a href="http://www.peterdonaldson.net/Salmonpeople/Performance/about.html">http://www.peterdonaldson.net/Salmonpeople/Performance/about.html</a></i><br/><br/>Information on using the Open Space as a self-organizing group process of getting to group action that "acakesn & empowers the iherent creativity & leadership in all people" is at <i><a href="http://www.peterdonaldson.net/Openspace/about.html">http://www.peterdonaldson.net/Openspace/about.html</a></i><br/><br/>I would be honored to be part of any planning teams that are inspired to explore these events & initiate this community building. Please let me know if anyone else has an interest or your thinking on how both his work and the transition work are compatible.