I helped build this.

Ziggy's slide show of cob house with living roof construction.
http://small-scale.net/yearofmud/2009/11/10/the-year-of-mud-cob-house-picture-slideshow/

Going to look at 40 acres about 75 minutes from town. $3600/acre. No improvements. No buildings.

Satellite from Goog

Found this through powerswitch

Global Footprint Network (GFN)

GFN supports the creation of a sustainable economy by advancing the scientific rigour and practical application of the Ecological Footprint as a measurement and policy tool, with the goal of making ecological limits central to decision-making everywhere.

GFN's flagship awareness raising day is Earth Overshoot Day, the point at which humanity collectively has used up the resources the Earth can created in a year, and from that point on until 31 December is living on ecological credit:

http://www.footprintnetwork.org/earthovershootday

On September 25, humanity will reach an unfortunate milestone. We will have demanded all the ecological services – from filtering CO2 to producing the raw materials for food – that nature can provide this year, according to data from Global Footprint Network, a research organization that measures how much nature we have, how much we use, and who uses what.

From 25 September until the end of the year, we will meet our ecological demand by depleting resource stocks and accumulating greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.Since the mid 1980s, humanity has been demanding ecological services faster than the planet can regenerate them, a condition known as ecological overshoot. We now use in less than 10 months the amount of resources it takes 12 months for nature to generate, according to Global Footprint Network data.



I make choices everyday that impact the earth. I do my best. Small changes lead to big changes. Believe it. Live it.

Solstice!!

First thing in the morning, I'll head up to the Monastery and the good Sisters of Benedict. We are working at a Habitat for Humanity house - putting in a small vegetable garden. I turn the phone off and may not blog until Sunday night. I'll take the camera for some pictures.

Have a great Solstice!

It may frost tonight so I went out and took the last of the vegetables except those under the cold frame.



from the right, deiseil:
broccoli flowers (vase), cauliflower, sage, rosemary, tomatoes, cabbage, basil, and a beautiful mum. Also sprinkled with marigolds.

Oh, there's also a mass of beans and some scrabbly, but tasty lettuce and kale as well (not shown).

( A couple more under the cut )

I've been reading Wendell Berry's works including his essays, poems, and scathing condemnation of the USDA's policies. I went looking for more recent pieces and found a May 2008 article in Harper's on Limitless Consumerism. Sobering.

principles affirmed
cheerfully acknowledged
hungry for the world
silence is no help
wandering the labyrinth
made perfect
by unfinished love

I just realized we are entering the autumnal equinox.

(Time has no meaning under a drug induced wake-sleep-wake-sleep cycle.)

The "third" day forecast as Gustav heads inland. He should be here by the weekend.

At the turning of the sun, I remind reaffirm myself of my vows:

Poverty
Simple living is not about living in poverty or self-inflicted deprivation. Rather, it is about living an examined life — one in which you have determined what is important, or "enough," for you, discarding the rest.

Celibacy
In 2008, I will manifest health into my life through an efficient, reasonable and integrated nutrition, exercise and health plan. I will make reasonable accommodations to my health plan to account for periods of disruptions. I will maintain a positive attitude throughout 2008 in order to faciliate good fortune. I will be patient and forthright with others and myself. I will allow myself to achieve success and to occasionally fail without guilt. I will manifest unbounded love and acceptance. I will recognize the human and the divine in myself and in others.

Obedience
Reporter: "When you pray, what do you say to God?"
Mother Theresa of Calcutta: "Nothing. I just listen."
Reporter: "What does God say to you?"
Mother Theresa: "Nothing. God just listens, too. And if you don't understand that, I can't explain it to you."

This is the point in the year when I start gushing about fresh food. Today for lunch was a fresh green salad with a basil vinegar splash, spinach/basil/oregano/garlic/mozzarella/feta "pizza", and cool mint tea. Tonight for dinner is miso "hot & sour" soup with mushrooms, green onions, and tofu. Apple with a sprinkle of dark 70% cacao for dessert.

Summer solstice will be celebrated locally this year.

In conservation news, I'm thinking about hanging my laundry up on a line. I usually only have 2 loads of wash each week. I also developed confidence enough to ride my bike to work. I think the next clear day (no chance of rain), I will do it. Finally, to keep cool at night, I should sleep in the basement. The basement is consistently around 68F all year round and feels warmer/cooler opposite the season. My thermostat is set at 75F right now, and I am conscious of passive solar heat/cool with the blinds and using the whole house fan. By moving my living space to the basement, I might be able to save energy/money with the heating/cooling. I don't really like to idea of spending time in the basement (no sunlight), but I'll think about it this week and maybe experiment a bit. The no sunlight thing is not a big deal at night so maybe sleeping in the basement is the first step.

I road my bike around the neighborhood this morning. It's a bit harder than I remember when I had 20-year old knees instead of 40. I did end up purchasing the Specialized Crossroads Elite ($325) but without the armadillo tires since I will be street riding mostly. It's the "champagne" color not black. Showing here: http://samiraalthores.livejournal.com/81102.html

I have a mirror, some extra reflectors, and a helmut. I might get some other accessories if needed which they will install for free in their shop. I have a line on a cart (? -->> child carrier/stroller) attachment (something like this that can be hauled by my bike so I will be able to go to the grocery store and the farmer's market, haul my veggies in the future.

There's been a lot on the telly news about "bike to work" week/day. I wonder if it will continue, and the city will start to be more friendly to bikes. It's dangerous out there. Our drivers are careless, and there is no place to ride, really, on the main routes. Maybe I'll advocate in the local community.

In a timely report, yarrowcat posts the Michael Pollan article concerning small, personal steps to a more sustainable lifestyle and its global effect.

It really is worth the 90 seconds.

A nice video report from MSNBC. It has an interactive feature including a point-counterpoint from the industry folks.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23358591/

I use canvas/cloth bags.

I had the most remarkable workout experience tonight. I was late getting to the gym so I missed feri_hearted and joad77 in the pool. I started on the bike and the guy next to me was throwing off energy. We chatted about endorphrines. I hit a high so I did an extra 15 minutes. Then I went over and did my lower back, lats and triceps hi rep, lo weight training. There was a guy stretching on the mats and when I started into some yoga poses, he mimicked and we ended up doing a yoga sequence together, smiling all the way. I sat down to stretch, noticed the definition in my calf and just started laughing. I felt so good! I went into the pool and must have just missed my workout buddies. I took a steam and met a girl who had similar knee issues so we ended up chatting and breathing in the steam room.

Thank you feri_hearted and joad77 for getting me back in the gym!

A nice article summarizing some recent peer-reviewed publications on biobased energy. The gist is that we are using new technology in old-fashioned ways thereby not really doing anything significantly different instead of developing new ways to use new technology towards a more sustainable future.
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007839.html

Edit (24 Feb 2008): A really great article (long) from Popular Mechanics: Crunching the Numbers on Alternative Fuels.

There's something pleasing about a summer rain. Thunder in the distance. Shades of gray in the sky. Trees creating waterfalls. Flowers perking before your very eyes. The song of birds as they emerge in the sunlight. The earth pauses after a summer rain.

Trees are one of the most beautiful mysteries of life on the earth. They embody earth energy. They grow; they seek the sun; they provide shade; they send out roots; they provide oxygen; they provide homes to woodland creatures; they procreate; they die; they return their essence to the earth and nuture living things - the moss, the lichen, microorganisms. Befriend a tree today. Stand quietly near one. Let your consciousness expand to feel the tree. Reach out a hand and gently touch the tree. Caress a leaf. Let gratitude swell up in your heart. Imagine yourself as a tree. What tree would you be? A mighty oak? A slender poplar? Evergreen? Gently, when you are ready, release your energy and come back into yourself. Breathe.

xposted to everyspirit