Another Step

For the past several years, my neighbor, Mike, has grown a small but mighty vegetable garden.  More than once he shared some left over plants with me and I stuck them in a small 2' x 3' space and, amazingly enough, watched them grow and produce....food!!!

In addition, Mike is a fabulous cook.  Many times, we've enjoyed fresh veggies and expertly prepared dishes from Mike's garden.  :-)

Wanting to expand my vegetable options, I emailed another neighbor, Michelle, early this year and asked if she wanted to garden with me this year.  She enthusiastically said "yes!".

And so, in January, we found ourselves at my dining room table, sharing tea and cookies and leafing through a seed catalog like teenagers with the latest Seventeen magazine.

The seeds arrived and Michelle started growing them in her house.  Warmed by grow lights her husband had constructed a few years before, they emerged from their little plastic beds and took on a lives of their own.

Some weeks ago we started peas and onions in Michelle's yard.  The onions are doing well and the peas, while growing strong, are providing a nice salad bar for our local renegade groundhog.  Hmmpphhh!

Now it was my turn.  Planning and plotting where to put my expanded.  Which part of the yard?  What materials to use?  How big to make it?  Where to get organic soil?

With tremendous help from my dear hubby, we tackled this feat last Sunday.  In a morning to evening frenzy, we bought and built our garden space.  It was great fun!

Then, this past Saturday, our first plants went in the soil.  Now they're on their way to what we hope will be a prosperous season.  (Once we figure out how to fence 

 them in and protect them from the deer, rabbits, and groundhog!)

In addition to the sense of community that's been created by this little venture, I've been motivated by what I'm learning in Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.  Some of those facts can be gleaned in this article, which I just received in my monthly Organic Consumer Association newsletter.  I had no idea big business played such a dastardly role in controlling the food we consume.  Yikes!

So...in another step towards more sustainable living...and as part of my Not Buying It year...I give you....THE GARDEN:

 BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

Kudos to the folks at Mother Earth News for their timely article on building a quick and easy garden!  And also to our other neighbor, Gretchen (soon to be 90 and legally blind) who provided all the newspaper for our project.  (We don't subscribe to our local paper, and were faced with the very unsustainable possibility of having to go BUY a bunch of Sunday editions to use in our garden.)  She was a lifesaver :-)

Are You Kidding Me?

In the poetic words of the troubled yet awesome Amy Winehouse...

"What kind of fuckery is this?"

These lyrics struck me as pretty strong and offensive at first, but they have now almost become my mantra. She just puts it out there. And sometimes that's what is truly needed.

On my way to work yesterday, gas was $3.72/gallon. That was on the other side of the street. On my side of the street (the direction I was driving to work) it was $3.95/gallon. I was running late for work and couldn't stop to turn around and get gas. I *knew* that by the time I left work last evening, all stations would be jacked up to $3.95/gallon. And sure enough, that's what happened.

I paid $20 for 5 gallons of gas.

Indeed, what kind of fuckery is this?

In my world of Not Buying It, there are so many things that I'm having trouble wrapping my brain around lately. Who's getting rich from the gas prices? What's up with the cost of rice and flour? Where will it all end? Are we doomed to take the path of the Roman Empire? How will we survive?

For the past month or so I've been quite unsettled. Off kilter. Short of breath. Tired.

As a highly sensitive person (HSP), I suppose I am affected by the magnitude of disaster and tragedy that has befallen our world lately. If we are truly all connected, the collective energy of the planet cannot help but be shaken by the profound nature of so many souls suffering and leaving the earth in a short period of time.

And that's when I need more sleep. And rest. And down time. And covers over my head. And close friends who love and support me. And to nurture myself.

Because, once again, I remind myself that my well-being is up to me. Be it financial, emotional, physical, psychological, or spiritual...it must be an inside job.

So...in light of my disgust and anger and frustration and discontent...what am I *doing* or how am I *be-ing* to counteract that?

~listening to Eckart Tolle
~reaching out to friends and mentors
~napping with my cats
~slowing down
~choosing where to spend my energy
~recognizing what I own and what I don't (and letting go)
~moving forward in building my coaching business
~planning fun get-aways that will nurture my spirit and expand my horizons
~spending less
~acquiring less
~planning a garden to provide some of my own food
~continuing to look for ways to save money and live more sustainably
~letting myself be loved

One day at a time. One moment at a time. Deep breathing. Centering. Focusing. Incense burning. Lots of prayer.


Write and tell me how you're surviving in these days of uncertainty.