Fill in the blank: The fight over_______: A case for local greens?!

Fighting for ________ in the imperial valley (npr)

The premise of this article is not new, two interested groups vying for a limited resource: Water.

The farmers want to protect their interests keeping the fields (desert) irrigated, the developers in the booming southwest want a piece of the pie.

Everyone has an opinion/interest in this. One of mine is that I enjoy greens and by eating ones grown in California I am (like it or not) playing a role in how this shakes out. I actually see neither side as right. Both abuse the water source rendering it useless to wild plants and animals. Large agriculture and sprawling population in the driest areas of the US are clearly not sustainable.

I am lucky enough to have a winters farmers market where I can buy spinach and salad micro greens grown in local greenhouses. Sure it costs a little more, but when I consider the alternative (the ag giants damming and sucking our rivers dry) it is worth it.

this pesky water shortage business is probably not going away, thats why I recommend getting some exposure to the topic!

fasting, my first test run.

I came across this article from National Public Radio and thought to myself: Hmmm, how many times have I actually fasted with not even juice, and realized that the answer (unless you count days my stomach is in bad shape) is zero.

The article is full of great information about how a short fast can help keep blood sugar in balance and help reduce sugar cravings. There is much more in the article and I recommend a read if fasting tickles your fancy.

So today I attempt to break the streak. Sure, it is only 10 am est, but  I am feeling good thus far. Soon I am heading to work in a delicious restaurant. Will I make it??? Ill let you all know. Wish me luck!

Service (a MUST watch link)

We know that for this elusive ‘sustainable development’ dream to become a reality, the role of service must be wholeheartedly embraced.

And here’s the thing, I could talk and talk (or type and type) about what service is and why it is important, but I will end up intellectualizing it rendering it dead of meaning. Instead, I will link you to the King Center.  It is a memorial set up for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The speech that is playing on the ‘splash page’ (the first thing you hit when you hit the link) sums up service and it role in society better than I could ever dream of. Just blown away.

Click to Listen/watch

whizz band boom picture!

Eyjafjallajökull Volcano, Iceland

Eyjafjallajökull Volcano, Iceland from National Geographic

I think this was that pesky volcano that stopped air travel last summer…

 

The Best Tahini Ever Starts With Good Seed.

This will be the first time I have recommended a brand specific food product on the blog (except for Navitas Naturals, one of our wonderful Sponsors/collaborators). But after eating this Sesame Tahini, I just want everyone to know about it.

The brand is Tohum (which means seed in turkish) and fittingly they use only heirloom seeds which to me is at least as important as organic (they are certified organic too!). Why are heirloom seeds so important you ask?

Well, the shortest answer I can give is that
1. Only heirloom seeds (seeds that are not hybridized and definitely not genetically modified) will grow back true to the original plant allowing the farmers to save seed (a practice that goes back to the origins of agriculture).
2. I firmly believe that the fruits of heirloom seeds are more delicious and nutritious
3. Using heirloom seeds promotes diversity. Diversity supports stability, creates beauty, and brings ‘balance’ into the eco-system.

Ok, three good reasons there. Each one can (and will?) be expanded on, but its a good start.

So, if you want to support a great company and have a delicious product (which blows away all other tahinis I have had) find out where you can buy this.

I just mixed it in a smoothie. Yum!

 

Just a fun quote about beets

“…hold on to your divine blush, your innate rosy magic, or end up brown. Once you’re brown, you’ll find that you’re blue. As blue as indigo. And you know what that means: Indigo. Indigoing.Indigone…”

-Tom Robbins

New Orleans was a fitting ending for our first workshop tour

Our last city of the fall tour was New Orleans and a few days before the workshop I was walking in Audobon Park when I came across a simple field of grass that immediately triggered a flashback.  Four years earlier I was living in New Orleans teaching and organizing trauma relief courses a year after Hurricane Katrina.  It was on this field that I clearly remember sharing with my fellow organizers a vision I had for Deepening Roots where I would create educational workshops that would get people excited and inspired to grow gardens and get involved in local food systems and I would travel the country and later the world spreading this knowledge.  At the time I was organizing the second summer program.  The name Deepening Roots did not exist and thoughts of a long term vision were just starting to emerge .  To be in that same place 4 years later, successfully concluding our first workshop tour was a special moment to say the least.  To be honest the growth and experiences that Deepening Roots has provided in the last four years have far exceeded the vision I once shared in the park.

cheers,

Andrew

Deepening Roots has come to Eastern Canada!

Just a couple weeks ago I had the privilege to organize and co-teach the first Deepening Roots workshop in Eastern Canada.  I was born and raised in Nova Scotia, so bringing Deepening Roots to Halifax was an exciting opportunity for me to bring this knowledge back home.  In many ways my experience was truly groundbreaking, I’ve always had a passion for education but never in my life have I taught an intensive workshop like this before.  Having participated in the 2009 and 2010 summer intensives, I felt like I was finally stepping up to the plate to share the amazing experiences I’ve had over the past few summers.

Any doubts or anxieties I had quickly melted away as I saw the engaged faces of enthusiastic participants come through the door, eager to learn about sustainable development, and contribute their own ideas.  I was amazed at how effortless the process was, there was so much energy and openness to learn new things the group dynamic took on a life of its own.  There were times when I had to just sit back and observe the process in awe.  During the community development section, when participants were sharing their ideas with each other, the atmosphere in the room was just electric.  Everyone was glowing with inspiration, feeling the unlimited creative potential on how they can make a difference in the world.  Observing this I thought to myself, “This is how real change happens, people coming together and empowering each other with their visions.”  It was only 35 minutes into the workshop and already I was feeling the impact on how this material can bring people together, and expand their sense of possibility.

As we moved into learning about the industrial food system, and the full ecological and social consequences of our modern diet, the tone shifted a bit.  People felt overwhelmed, angry, and shocked as they observed the bigger picture on how food is grown  by conventional agriculture.  For some this complete analysis was a new picture, and filled gaps they had on food issues.  Optimism was low, but all was not lost.  Inspiration quickly came back into the flow as they discussed solutions, and devised alternative courses of action to the challenge that was before them.

It was a diverse crowd, from a variety of backgrounds including university students, a registered nurse,and a local entrepreneur.  One of the many things that brought them together was their love of food.  Co-teacher Jeff Paquette introduced them to the exciting world of raw cuisine, serving up a delicious array of green smoothies, raw pumpkin pie, chia pudding, and an unforgettable seed patte’.  For the many food enthusiasts in the crowd this was one of the major eye opening moments for them.  Many could picture little more than munching on uncooked greens when the words ‘raw food’ came to mind.  World views drastically shifted when Jeff shared some of his raw food snacks, and people repeated ‘I can’t believe this is raw!’  Since the workshop, one of the participants who owns a local cafe has introduced a few raw snacks and they can hardly stay on the shelf!

Over the two days it was incredibly enriching for me to witness people having those genuine ‘Eureka!’ moments where you know the insight is going stay with them, and become part of their ever growing knowledge base.  I highly encourage others to take part in this process, become teachers themselves, and experience the joy of bringing this information into peoples’ lives.

-Jeff Toth

inspired

This was an inspiring week and a momentous week for two reasons.

1. Deepening Roots taught in a High School for the first time.  I had no idea what to expect.  How would 15 years old students living in a city respond to compost, soil and plants?  To my pleasant surprise they loved it!  They loved feeling the compost and were amazed that there kitchen waste could turn into what was in between their fingers.  They were impressed at how small sunflower seeds were and then amazed at how small the lettuce seeds were.  They were so careful and gentle when planting the seeds not to plant too deep  like they had done this before.

The night before I went to a Q and A with the director of  Fresh a movie about people creating sustainable local food systems www.freshthemovie.com/ (it looks great)  in the crowd there was a lot of doubt and despair that we could ever achieve local food security and that the industrial system is simply too big and powerful.  Then the next day I am in a room with H.S. freshmen who are well aware of all the issues concerning our food system and understand the importance of growing locally.  I was inspired and wished those people in the audience could have been with me in that classroom.  Doubt and despair will get us know where.

2. Last weekend was the first time we have had two workshops at the same time! Athens, Ohio and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  I was in Athens.  The enthusiasm of the group was inspirational.  They learned, they had fun and now they are implementing.  In Halifax, two of our summer graduates taught there first workshop on there own and did an amazing job.  Soon you will here from them about there experience.  The report I got back was people loved it and left inspired and smiling.

This is the power of Deepening Roots.  It gives people the tools and knowledge to take a truthful look at themselves and see how they can live more sustainably and healthier.  They see how it is easy and fun and the change comes 100% from them!

I have a lot to be thankful for this week.  It’s nice to feel inspired.

 

Some environmental thoughts…

From: Autobiography of a Yogi

I have been reading the wonderful autobiography of Paramahansa Yogananda. titled “Autobiography of a Yogi”. I am nearly finished (I now know why so many friends recommended it over the years) and came across two passages I found interesting. Interesting enough to read twice, which makes me think yall would like it too.

They pertain to the relationship between humans and nature, the rest I will let you understand in your own way.

1:
“Because modern science tells us how to utilize the powers of Nature, we fail to comprehend the Great Life in back of all names and forms. Familiarity with Nature has bred contempt for her ultimate secrets; our relation with her is one of practical business. We tease her, so to speak, to discover the ways in which she may be forced to serve out purposes; we make use of her energies, whose Source yet remains unknown. In science our relation with Nature is like that between an arrogant man and his servant; or, in philosophical sense, nature is like our captive in the witness box. We cross-examine her, challenge her, and minutely weigh her evidence in human scales that cannot measure her hidden values.”

He continues the next paragraph with:

“On the other hand,”

But, I will make you read the book to find out what that “other hand” is. Can’t make it to easy for yall.

2:
“The secret of improved plant breeding, apart from scientific knowledge, is love”
-Luther Burbank

Anyway, if you are interested in what the life of a Yogi is, and/or about the vast dynamic spiritual world that is India I highly recommend this book.